UK’s £26bn AI supercomputer faces mid-2030s launch delay over power grid limits
The UK’s £26bn AI supercomputer project in Loughton, Essex, will not open in 2027 as planned. Nscale, the startup building the facility, says power supply issues mean the grid cannot handle its 90MW demand until at least the early to mid-2030s. UK Power Networks (UKPN) reportedly told Nscale the delay stems from broader grid constraints, with 315 datacentres queuing for connections nationwide,…
Key points
- Nscale’s £26bn UK AI supercomputer delayed until mid-2030s due to power grid limits, per UKPN
- 90MW demand equals energy for 315,000 homes; UK’s total datacentre queue exceeds 73GW
- Nscale investigates on-site power and faster grid connections while UKPN cites national grid bottlenecks
The project was announced in 2025 as the UK’s largest sovereign AI datacentre, but construction has stalled due to unresolved power logistics. Nscale, which aims to list on the stock market this year, is exploring on-site power generation and faster grid connections. Ofgem warned earlier this year that datacentre demand is outpacing grid capacity, and National Grid confirmed delays require transmission network upgrades. The government’s 2025 AI strategy cited the Loughton site as a cornerstone, but its timeline now hinges on unresolved infrastructure hurdles.
Construction of UK’s ‘largest supercomputer’ delayed over power supply problems
The Guardian AI · 24 September 2026
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This text was published by The Guardian AI and written by Dan Milmo. It is reproduced here with attribution so you can read it in full; the rights remain with the publisher. Read it at the source ↗
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