Powering a Productive UK

The pace of potential change is illustrated in the life science sector. Our survey of life science companies in the UK, undertaken on our behalf by YouGov, found life science companies expect their use of AI and machine learning will more than double over the next five years. Nearly three quarters of companies will be using these technologies. 

But, many of the technologies and sectors that have the potential to transform the UK’s economic productivity are associated with significant power demands. Data centres place particularly acute demands on power. Facilities generally demand around 1,500 wm2 but with some emerging operations requiring 10,000 wm2, the pace of growth of this sector has the potential to see energy requirements grow rapidly.

The challenges presented by the power demands of such rapidly growing sectors are immediate. Electricity consumption from data centres and AI alone could double by 2026 (International Energy Agency, 2024) with the growth of the respective sectors. Furthermore, other areas of science are currently at an early stage, but the implications of their commercialisation will be seen in future power requirements. Crucially though, our renewable industry sector can itself contribute to growth not only in cutting long term power costs, but also through the rapidly expanding cohort of tech and engineering companies evolving within the sector.

We must rise to this challenge —the financial and environmental outcomes for future generations are at stake. But, given the scale of this transformation challenge and the backdrop of an existing overstretched electrical power system, this cannot be achieved piecemeal. 

A strategic approach to power delivery is desperately needed, maximising the contribution of existing and future renewable sources, while planning holistically for the demands of a highly productive economy.