Here is a list of Parliamentary Questions on hyperscale AI data centres which have been asked in the Scottish Parliament, either in written form or at oral questions.
Asked and not answered yet
S7W-01691 Tim Eagle: To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W 01147 by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 1 July 2026, whether the First Minister has reached a decision on whether the Scottish Government will provide local authorities with planning guidance on proposed green data centres.
S7W-01692 Tim Eagle: To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S7W 01148 by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 2 July 2026, when it will publish guidance on what factors are prevalent in a green data centre.
S7W-01844 Murdo Fraser MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026, Current Status: Answer expected on 17 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish guidance on the factors that define a green data centre, and whether, pending publication of that guidance, it will invite planning authorities to defer determining applications for hyperscale data centres.
S7W-01845 Murdo Fraser, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party
Date lodged: Monday, 20 July 2026, Current Status: Answer expected on 17 August 2026
To ask the Scottish Government whether it, the Energy Consents Unit or the National Planning Hub holds data on the cumulative electricity and water demand of all data centre proposals currently in the planning system, and if not, what its position is on commissioning such data before further determinations in relation to these proposals are made.
S7W-01847 Murdo Fraser: To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of whether Scotland’s construction and engineering workforce has the capacity to deliver simultaneously the consented onshore wind pipeline, the electricity transmission network expansion, which the National Energy System Operator (NESO) has reportedly said must proceed at more than four times the rate of the last decade, and proposed hyperscale data centres, and what role its skills agencies will play in meeting any workforce requirements.
S7W-01860 Claire Baker: To ask the Scottish Government what consideration it has given to requiring data centres to run closed loop water systems or to require the reuse of treated wastewater.
S7W-01844 Murdo Fraser: To ask the Scottish Government by what date it will publish guidance on the factors that define a green data centre, and whether, pending publication of that guidance, it will invite planning authorities to defer determining applications for hyperscale data centres.
S7W-01845 Murdo Fraser: To ask the Scottish Government whether it, the Energy Consents Unit or the National Planning Hub holds data on the cumulative electricity and water demand of all data centre proposals currently in the planning system, and if not, what its position is on commissioning such data before further determinations in relation to these proposals are made.
S7W-01858 Claire Baker: To ask the Scottish Government whether it maintains, or plans to create, a list of the number, location and size of all current and proposed data centres in Scotland, and whether this is available to the public.
S7W-01859 Claire Baker: To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any potential cumulative impact of hyperscale data centres on water supply in Scotland.
S7W-01886 Steven Bonnar: To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding a coordinated oversight framework for large-scale data centre and AI infrastructure developments, in light of the cross-cutting issues that such developments raise across devolved planning powers and reserved matters, including energy and digital infrastructure.
Questions Answered
Question reference: S7W-01525
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 3 July 2026
- Current status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 31 July 2026
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any cumulative impact of proposed large-scale data centre developments on agricultural land, including the loss of prime quality farmland.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not undertaken a national assessment of the remit the member has specifically outlined on data centres. However, we are currently engaging with industry and partner agencies to better understand the cumulative impacts of data centre developments on the environment.
When new planning applications come forward, Scotland’s National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) ensures the potential impacts of proposals, including cumulative impacts, are important considerations in the decision-making process. NPF4 policy 5 (soils) sets out policy protections for peatland and carbon rich soils, including prime agricultural land.
Question reference: S7W-01528
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 3 July 2026
- Current status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 31 July 2026
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether environmental impact assessments are required for large-scale data centre developments proposals to assess heat island effects on the surrounding environment, including on agricultural land and local ecosystems.
Answer
Where planning applications come forward, planning authorities have a responsibility to consider the environmental implications of all proposals on their individual merits.
In cases where a proposal is likely to have a significant environmental effect, these powers are further supplemented by the procedures set out in the Town and Country Planning (Environmental Impact Assessment) (Scotland) Regulations 2017.
Question reference: S7W-01527
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 3 July 2026
- Current status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 31 July 2026
Question
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential heat island effect associated with large-scale data centre developments, including any implications for human health, biodiversity and agricultural productivity in surrounding areas.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not undertaken a national assessment of the remit the member has specifically outlined on data centres. However, we are currently engaging with industry and partner agencies to better understand the cumulative impacts of data centre developments on the environment.
Planning authorities have a responsibility to consider the environmental implications of all developments which require an application for planning permission.
Scotland’s National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) ensures the potential impacts of proposals, including cumulative impacts, are important considerations in the decision-making process. All applications are subject to site specific assessments.
Question reference: S7W-01526
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 3 July 2026
- Current status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 31 July 2026
Question
To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that National Planning Framework 4 provides sufficient guidance to local authorities on the siting of large-scale data centres, including whether applicants are required to justify use of prime agricultural land, green belt land or wetland sites in their proposed developments.
Answer
We recognise that data centres are a rapidly evolving sector. In a response to Gillian MacKay MSP on Thursday 25 June, the First Minister set out that he is giving active consideration on whether the Scottish Government should provide planning guidance to balance the rapid expansion of hyperscale data centres with national energy and climate goals which are vital to our future prosperity.
Question reference: S7W-01318
- Asked by: Mark Ruskell, MSP for Mid Scotland and Fife, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 25 June 2026
- Current status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 22 July 2026
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answers to questions S7O-00110, S7O-00114 and S7O-00115 by Gillian Martin on 24 June 2026 and S7F-00023 by John Swinney on 25 June 2026, what plans it has to provide a formal definition of a green data centre and, in the absence of such a definition, how it will develop guidance on how planning authorities can assess the environmental credentials of proposed hyperscale data centres.
Answer
Scottish Ministers are giving active consideration to whether we should provide stronger planning guidance, including to balance the potential economic opportunities from the creation of data centres, with concerns raised by communities, and our national energy and climate goals which are vital to our future prosperity.
Question reference: S7W-01337
- Asked by: Steven Bonnar, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 25 June 2026
- Current status: Answered by Hannah Mary Goodlad on 22 July 2026
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of the increasing scale and strategic significance of proposed data centre developments, whether it will consider establishing a centralised ministerial oversight framework, similar in principle to the Energy Consents Unit for major energy infrastructure, to ensure a coordinated national approach to assessing cumulative impacts on energy demand, water use, land use and infrastructure, while also ensuring meaningful community benefit and alignment with Scotland’s net zero ambitions.
Answer
The Scottish Government has on the 13th of July repositioned the energy consents unit within an expanded Planning Directorate, creating a single, stronger centre of expertise in planning and consenting within the Scottish Government.
As the First Minister set out in Parliament on 25 June 2026, we are giving active consideration to whether we should provide planning guidance to balance the potential economic opportunities from the creation of data centres, with concerns raised by communities, and our national energy and climate goals which are vital to our future prosperity.
All issues about local and national decision making and the implications for energy use will be considered fully.
17 July S7W-01336
- Asked by: Steven Bonnar, MSP for Uddingston and Bellshill, Scottish National Party
- Date lodged: 25 June 2026
- Current status: Answered by Ben Macpherson on 17 July 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what discussions it has had with the UK Government regarding a coordinated oversight framework for large-scale data centre developments, including those supporting AI infrastructure, in light of the intersecting issues that such developments raise across devolved planning powers and reserved matters, including energy and digital infrastructure.
Answer
The complexity of large scale data centre developments, and interplay across reserved and devolved policy areas, makes discussions with UK Government across a range of areas particularly important. To this end, the Scottish Government has met with UK Government counterparts across HM Treasury (HMT), Department of Science, Innovation and Technology (DSIT), and the Department of Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ).
In respect of a co-ordinated framework, we have, together with the UK and Welsh Governments, jointly commissioned NESO to produce a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) for Great Britain. The SSEP will spatially optimise a specified volume of flexible data centre demand (1-2GW). This will indicate where opportunities for energy system benefits exist, such as co-location of renewables and data centres, supporting the development of government policy on the spatial location of data centre demand. The Regional Energy Strategic Plan for Scotland will further enable the coordinated development of the energy system across multiple vectors.
24th July Portfolio Parliamentary Questions
THREE PQs were lodged in Climate Action and Rural Affairs Questions and there were so many supplementary questions asked after them that the Presiding Officer said they had run out of time and needed to move on.
Mark Ruskell: To ask the Scottish Government what national assessment it has made of
the climate impact associated with hyperscale AI green data centres. (S7O-00110)
Gary Bouse: To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of any impact on the environment of the construction and operation of hyperscale data centres. (S7O-00114) R
Alan Brown: To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to carry out a cumulative impact assessment of the number of planning applications proposed for AI data centres, including the power and water resources required and the impact on climate emissions. (S7O-00115)
Supplementary questions asked by Laura Moodie, Adam Harley, Steven Bonnar. Graham Simpson, Julie MacDougall and Claire Baker.
In response to a question by Julie Macdonald MSP, Gillian Martin said the following:
‘Our stance on the growth zone initiative is that, obviously, we recognise that, where a data centre development is proposed, it must have strict environmental impact assessments associated with it, and we must have an idea of the number of data centres that are likely to go through planning. We also need to ensure that our regulations are fit for purpose.’
A note of clarification on this – although every right-thinking person would think that hyperscale AI data centres would require an EIA, seven out of 12 that have reached that stage of planning have not been required to do them. Including the development in the AI Growth zone at Chapelhall.
1 July Written Questions submitted to the Scottish Parliament by Murdo Fraser MSP
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT
WRITTEN ANSWER
1 July 2026
Index Heading: Economy
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government what advice it provides local authorities in relation to assessing planning applications for AI data centres, including regarding the cumulative energy demand and energy security impact of the entire national data centre pipeline.
S7W-01147
Hannah Mary Goodlad: National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) designates “Green Data Centres” as National Development. Policy 24 of NPF4 supports Digital Infrastructure, encouraging, promoting and facilitating the roll out of digital infrastructure across Scotland to unlock the potential of all our places and the economy. The Scottish Government is a co-commissioner of the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan which will model likely energy demand up to 2050 and the generation approaches required to support that demand. In a response to Martyn Day MSP on Thursday 25 June, I advised that the Scottish Government is urgently considering whether more formal guidance is required to help local planning authorities. In a response to Gillian MacKay MSP on Thursday 25 June, the First Minister set out that he is giving active consideration to whether the Scottish Government should provide planning guidance to balance the rapid expansion of hyperscale data centres with national energy and climate goals, which are vital to our future prosperity.
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT
WRITTEN ANSWER
2 July 2026
Index Heading: Economy
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether it considers that the National Planning Framework 4 provides sufficient guidance to local authorities to appropriately with applications for AI data centres, including the impact on the grid.
S7W-01148
Hannah Mary Goodlad: Planning authorities have qualified planning officers who apply their professional analysis and judgement to inform decisions. National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) designates “Green Data Centres” as National Development. NPF4 must be considered, read and applied in the round, accounting for all of its relevant provisions when assessing planning applications. We are considering whether more formal guidance would also help planning authorities. We have already committed to publish guidance on what factors are prevalent in a “green” data centre.
SCOTTISH PARLIAMENT
WRITTEN ANSWER
2 July 2026
Index Heading: Economy
Murdo Fraser (Mid Scotland and Fife) (Scottish Conservative and Unionist Party): To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to introduce a national strategy plan for the location of AI data centres or allow local authorities to determine this on an individual basis.
S7W-01149
Hannah Mary Goodlad: Decisions on the location of such developments are currently taken through Scotland’s plan-led planning system. This includes the National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4), which sets out national planning policies and priorities, alongside local development plans prepared by planning authorities. Together, these ensure that proposals are assessed in a consistent manner. Ministers are considering whether additional strategic coordination is required to support future investment, manage cumulative impacts on infrastructure, resources and communities. In a response to Martyn Day MSP on Thursday 25 June, I advised that the Scottish Government is urgently considering whether more formal guidance is required to help local planning authorities. In a response to Gillian MacKay MSP on Thursday 25 June, the First Minister set out that he is giving active consideration to whether the Scottish Government should provide planning guidance to balance the rapid expansion of hyperscale data centres with national energy and climate goals, which are vital to our future prosperity.
4 June
Question reference: S7W-00337
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 26 May 2026
- Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 4 June 2026
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports that greenhouse gas emissions analysis underpinning its “green data centre” policy might not fully account for hyperscale AI data centres, what plans it has to review these figures.
Answer
To support preparation of National Planning Framework 4, the then Scottish Government commissioned independent research on the Lifecycle Greenhouse Gas Emissions of NPF4 proposed National Developments. This was first published in 2021 and updated in October 2022.
As the scale and characteristics of data centre developments evolve, we will continue to monitor developments and consider whether further evidence gathering is required. In the meantime, any proposed development schemes remain subject to planning and environmental assessment requirements.
Question reference: S7W-00336
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 26 May 2026
- Current status: Answered by Tom Arthur on 4 June 2026
Question
To ask the Scottish Government, in light of reports of data centres applying for gas connections, how many such applications it is aware of in Scotland, and what its position is on gas-fired power generation for data centres.
Answer
The Scottish Government is not routinely sighted on applications for gas connections, but we are aware there are emerging data centre proposals that may have a gas component. The Scottish Government policy position is that new AI infrastructure developments should minimise reliance on fossil fuel solutions and we encourage developers to explore renewable and sustainable alternatives to gas fired generation wherever possible.
On 19 March, there were two oral questions in the Scottish Parliament on hyperscale data centres and answered by Gillian martin, Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy.
Portfolio: Climate Action and Energy, and Transport
3. Sarah Boyack (S6O-05674)
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the regulatory framework currently in place to monitor the development and operation of data centres in Scotland, in relation to ensuring that their energy use, water consumption and any environmental impacts are being effectively controlled.
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the regulatory framework currently in place to monitor the development and operation of data centres in Scotland, in relation to ensuring that their energy use, water consumption and any environmental impacts are being effectively controlled. (S6O-05674)
The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy (Gillian Martin)
Scotland benefits from a robust, although complex, regulatory and policy landscape that applies to data centre development. Under national planning framework 4, the planning authority must consider the potential environmental impacts of any planning application.
Beyond that, when a site is under development and in operation, a number of environmental regulations might apply that relate to on-site combustion plant, air emissions, energy use and storage, water abstraction and discharge, use of fluorinated gas—F-gas—waste management and fuel and chemical storage. The Scottish Environment Protection Agency is engaged in that framework and is working with UK regulators where such regulation is reserved.
Stop Climate Chaos Scotland has warned that, although the draft climate change plan outlines a range of policies that are aimed at increasing energy generation from renewables, it does not discuss the potential huge energy demand coming from data centres that planning authorities are now having to consider. In Edinburgh, for example, a temporary moratorium on data centres has been agreed and will be in place until the true level of energy and water consumption required is actually understood.
To follow on from the initial advice that has been given, will the cabinet secretary outline what advice and monitoring the Scottish Government will provide? Can lessons be learned from Dublin and Amsterdam about tightening controls on large data centres, and also from Odense, where 100,000 homes are now being heated by a data centre?
I really like hearing examples of planning decisions that lead to co-location. Data centres need cooling and our homes and public buildings need heating, so that is an absolute no-brainer for me.
Those are planning decisions and we are having a lot of discussion with our colleagues at the Convention of Scottish Local Authorities about how we can co-locate any developments that might have waste heat associated with them. A great deal of work will be done on heat networks in the next Parliament.
The cabinet secretary has outlined some of the safeguards in the current regulatory framework. A massive data centre proposed in Edinburgh would be similar in size to—and occupy as much land as—the entire ground at Murrayfield stadium. Will the Scottish Government make representations to ensure that a full environmental impact assessment is carried out? That is what communities are calling for, considering the planned diesel backup generators, the impact on air quality and the location of the site on greenbelt land within the Gogar special landscape area.
Sue Webber will know that I cannot comment on planning applications. However, it is important to note that, if a site does require an environmental impact assessment, the Scottish Environment Protection Agency will be consulted at the planning stage on any potential environmental impacts.
I go back to what I said in my earlier answer to Sarah Boyack, which is that all local authorities should look at such proposals and work out what they can co-locate in order to maximise the possible benefits of data centres.
8. Foysol Choudhury (S6O-05679)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to formally define “green” to ensure alignment with net zero targets in its designation of data centres as a “national priority”.
8. Foysol Choudhury (Lothian) (Ind)
To ask the Scottish Government whether it plans to formally define “green” to ensure alignment with net zero targets in its designation of data centres as a “national priority”. (S6O-05679)
The Cabinet Secretary for Climate Action and Energy (Gillian Martin)
The Scottish Government recognises that data centres are vital to the delivery of our digital ambitions and our transition to a net zero economy. Their designation as a national development in national planning framework 4, which was approved by the Parliament, highlights their importance and the expectation that future projects will align with Scotland’s climate commitments. When new development proposals come forward, it is for the planning authority to interpret and apply NPF4 according to the circumstances of each case, considering factors such as renewable energy use, energy efficient technologies, reduced water consumption, and opportunities to reuse excess heat.
What assessment has the Scottish Government made of the potential impact of hyperscale data centres on Scotland’s statutory climate targets and consumer energy bills? Will it consider an immediate moratorium on such projects until a clear definition of green data centres is established?
As Mr Choudhury will know, work is already under way through the strategic spatial energy plan—the SSEP—which the four nations are involved in, as well as the connections accelerator programme, which will help to inform how Scotland manages future energy demand from data centres and other sources in a way that supports our grid resilience and our net zero pathway. The SSEP’s work was jointly commissioned by the United Kingdom, Scottish and Welsh Governments. It will assess the optimal locations, quantities and types of energy infrastructure that are required across a range of all possible future scenarios to meet future energy demand.
Answered January 2026
Question: S6W-42877
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 9 January 2026
- Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 23 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the potential cumulative impact of data centres on Scotland’s (a) electricity grid, (b) water resources, (c) groundwater and (d) communities.
Answer
The Scottish Government is taking a whole system approach in its assessment of data centre infrastructure requirements and implications, including ensuring that the energy and water demands as well as community concerns are considered. The current key considerations are set out below:
(a) Electricity Grid; In October 2024, the Scottish, UK and Welsh Governments jointly commissioned a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) for Great Britain which will assess the optimal locations, quantities and types of energy infrastructure required to meet future energy demand, including from data centres, with the clean, affordable and secure supply that we need. The National Energy System Operator (NESO) is responsible for the development of the SSEP and the Scottish Government continues to engage with NESO on its progress and development.
(b) and (c) water resources and groundwater; This is an operational matter for Scottish Water which is encouraging data centre developers to look at sustainable alternatives, for example, using closed loop systems, using treated effluent or locating data centres in areas where there is a plentiful supply of water.
The Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) regulates activities that abstract more than 50m³/day of inland waters (surface or groundwater).
SEPA assess these activities against Environmental Standards using the latest data on waterbody capacity and existing pressures. This ensures cumulative impacts are considered and permits are not issued where standards would be breached or other users adversely affected.
(d) Communities; Where development proposals come forward, the planning system ensures the potential impacts of proposals on communities and nature – including cumulative impacts – are important considerations in the decision-making process. All applications are subject to site specific assessments.
Through continued engagement with NESO, SEPA and Scottish Water, we will ensure that data centre investment takes place in a resource considerate manner, mitigating negative impacts and maximising positive impacts where possible, such as reduction in curtailment costs, where opportunities align.
Question: S6W-42875
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 7 January 2026
- Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 21 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for its energy strategy, what assessment it has made of the maximum data centre energy demand that can be accommodated in Scotland while aligning with its climate change targets.
Answer
There is an opportunity for Scotland to become a leader in green data centres given our capacity to generate energy from renewable sources.
Scotland’s renewable energy capacity continues to grow, with a strong pipeline of future projects that will play a key role in decarbonising the GB power system necessary for achieving net zero.
In October 2024, the Scottish, UK and Welsh Governments jointly commissioned a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) for Great Britain which will assess the optimal locations, quantities and types of energy infrastructure required to meet future energy demand, including from data centres, with the clean, affordable and secure supply that we need.
Question: S6W-42876
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 7 January 2026
- Current status: Answered by Richard Lochhead on 21 January 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for its energy strategy, what action it is taking to ensure that the grid connections for planned data centres reserved by National Energy System Operator are matched with the most preferential sites in Scotland, as set out in the report, Short list for Data Centre Site Development, which was published in May 2025.
Answer
With the exception of the Scottish Government’s statutory consenting function, issues relating to the design and operation of the electricity networks, including the process to obtain a grid connection, are reserved matters.
The Scottish Government regularly engages with the National Energy System Operator to discuss policy aims but ultimately grid connection applications and where they are made are commercial matters.
In October 2024, the Scottish, UK and Welsh Governments jointly commissioned a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) for Great Britain which will assess the optimal locations, quantities and types of energy infrastructure required to meet future energy demand, including from data centres, with the clean, affordable and secure supply that we need.
Question : S6W-43431
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 29 January 2026
- Current status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 10 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41364 by Ivan McKee on 28 October 2025, what estimate it has made of the total future electricity demand resulting from expected AI and data centre developments in Scotland, in light of its joint commissioning of a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) for Great Britain, and how this estimate is being communicated to any local authorities that will be responsible for consenting large-scale, energy-intensive infrastructure.
Answer
The Scottish Government has not made its own assessment of the total future electricity demand resulting from expected AI and data centre developments in Scotland.
The National Energy System Operator (NESO) recognised in its 2025 Future Energy Scenarios, that up to a fifth of Great Britain’s future data centre demand could be based in Scotland.
While the Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) for Great Britain is still under development, NESO recognises that engaging with local stakeholders, including Scottish Local Authorities, is critical to the success of the plan. The Scottish Government is aware of NESO’s engagement with COSLA, and you may wish to contact NESO directly at box.SSEP@neso.energy for any further detail.
Following publication of the SSEP, it is anticipated that NESO’s Regional Energy Strategic Plan (RESP) for Scotland will provide further insight into the forecast future electricity demand from data centres.
Question S6W-43432
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 29 January 2026
- Current status: Answered by Gillian Martin on 10 February 2026
To ask the Scottish Government, further to the answer to question S6W-41364 by Ivan McKee on 28 October 2025, whether it received the full regional dataset underpinning the National Energy System Operator’s modelling of data centre demand in its 2025 Future Energy Scenarios, including the location-specific scenarios that were not published in the public report, and whether it will make the Scotland-level figures available to the Parliament.
Answer
The Scottish Government does not hold the regional dataset that underpins the National Energy System Operator’s modelling of data centre demand in its 2025 Future Energy Scenarios (FES) publication.
NESO does not break down the FES data centre demand data further, to be able to show the location-specific scenarios of data centre demand.
Questions October 2025
uestion S6W-41362
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 15 October 2025
- Current status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 28 October 2025
To ask the Scottish Government what criteria are used to determine whether a data centre qualifies as a “green data centre” under the fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4), and whether AI-focused data centres are included in the scope of national developments under NPF4
Answer
National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) designates all green data centres of a major scale as part of National Development 12: Digital Fibre Network. This includes AI-focused green data centres meeting the major development criteria.
It will be for the planning authority to interpret and apply NPF4 according to the circumstances of each individual case. To be considered a green data centre, planning authorities may wish to consider criteria such as the extent to which the data centre is powered from renewable energy sources; makes use of energy efficient technologies; seeks to minimise water consumption; and supports the re-use of excess heat.
Question S6W-41364
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 15 October 2025
- Current status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 28 October 2025
To ask the Scottish Government, regarding any implications for its energy strategy, what impact it anticipates that the growth of AI and data centres will have on the (a) energy grid and (b) electricity demand in Scotland; whether it plans to introduce specific planning guidance for energy-intensive developments, such as AI data centres, and what strategic planning is being undertaken to accommodate any infrastructure demands of AI technologies, including data centres and high-performance computing.
Answer
There is an opportunity for Scotland to become a leader in green data centres given our capacity to generate energy from renewable sources.
In 2023, 70% of electricity generated in Scotland was from renewable sources – a marked increase compared to less than one-third (32%) a decade previously. As of June 2025, there is an estimated capacity of 76.5 GW of renewable energy projects, including storage, in the planning pipeline in Scotland. This means there is ample opportunity to use excess renewable generation for data centres, helping to reduce the impact and taxpayer costs of network constraints, with £390 million paid to Scottish wind farm operators in 2024 alone. As the National Energy System Operator (NESO) recognised in its 2025 Future Energy Scenarios, up to a fifth of Great Britain’s future data centre demand could be based in Scotland.
While we have no immediate plans to introduce planning guidance for energy-intensive developments, strategic planning is being undertaken by the Scottish Government to accommodate any infrastructure demands of AI technologies, such as AI data centres. Together with the UK and Welsh Governments, we have jointly commissioned NESO to produce a Strategic Spatial Energy Plan (SSEP) for Great Britain. The SSEP will spatially optimise a specified volume of flexible data centre demand (1-2GW). This will indicate where opportunities for energy system benefits exist, such as co-location of renewables and data centres, supporting the development of government policy on the spatial location of data centre demand. The Regional Energy Strategic Plan for Scotland will further enable the coordinated development of the energy system across multiple vectors.
Question S6W-41361
- Asked by: Ariane Burgess, MSP for Highlands and Islands, Scottish Green Party
- Date lodged: 15 October 2025
- Current status: Answered by Ivan McKee on 28 October 2025
To ask the Scottish Government whether all data centres are considered national developments under the fourth National Planning Framework, or only those that support the Digital Fibre Network ambition.
Answer
National Planning Framework 4 (NPF4) designates all green data centres of a major scale as part of National Development 12: Digital Fibre Network. What constitutes a major development is defined within the The Town and Country Planning (Hierarchy of Developments) (Scotland) Regulations 2009.
11 November 2025
Question: S6W-41363
Ariane Burgess (Highlands and Islands) (Scottish Green Party): To ask the Scottish Government what assessment it has made of the carbon footprint of data centres operating in Scotland, how the outcomes of any such assessments align with its net zero targets, and what measures are in place to ensure that new data centres meet environmental sustainability standards, including in relation to energy efficiency and renewable energy use.
Answer
Richard Lochhead: In Scotland, there are a range of data centres serving public and private sector requirements. There has been no overall assessment of the carbon footprint of these facilities in Scotland.
The European Commission has adopted a new delegated regulation on the first phase for establishing an EU-wide scheme to rate the sustainability of EU data centres which the Scottish Government is monitoring. However significant parts of this directive fall out with the devolved powers of Scottish Parliament. Scottish Government will however consider alignment for parts of the directive that fall within devolved competency. We are in discussion with the UK government around their plans to align UK policy to this directive.
Existing co-location commercial data centre operators have been contacted directly by our economic agencies to explore routes to decarbonise their facilities and operations, with operators being signposted to relevant funding opportunities.
Where proposals for new data centres come forward, our Fourth National Planning Framework (NPF4) ensures their potential impacts are important considerations in planning decision-making. NPF4 needs to be read and applied as a whole, and all applications are subject to site specific assessments.
NPF4 Policy 2 (climate mitigation and adaptation) requires development proposals to be sited and designed to minimise lifecycle greenhouse gas emissions as far as possible. We have published new planning guidance supporting the application of NPF4 policy 2 setting out a proportionate approach to dealing with whole life carbon through the planning process, drawing on recent research and international best practice.
NPF4 Policy 19 (heating and cooling) sets out that National and Major developments that will generate waste or surplus heat, and which are located in areas of heat demand, should include a Heat and Power Plan to demonstrate how energy recovered from the development will be used to produce electricity and heat.
New data centre buildings must also be designed and constructed in compliance with the relevant building regulations applicable to non-domestic buildings, including standard 6.1 which focuses on the reduction of energy demand arising from the use of heating, hot water, lighting, ventilation and cooling systems in a new building.