Briefing for MSPs – Hyperscale AI Data centres
Members’ Business Motion S7M-00428 Submitted by: Graham Simpson, Central Scot and Lothians West, Reform UK Lodged Friday, 19 June 2026
The Grid Queue and Data Centre Demand
This Report explains that there is no register for demand connections in the grid queue and that the latest estimate from Ofgem of data centre connections of contracted demand in the grid queue is 73GW, which is 1.5 times winter peak GB energy demand. Demand connections also do not need to show strategic alignment, unlike transmission and storage connections. We conclude that the Scottish Government needs to use its Planning powers to put in place a moratorium and make their own strategic plan for data centres
Data Centre calculator
Use this table to see how the energy capacity of the hyperscale data centres translate into figures that are more easy to understand.
Candidates in the Scottish General Election
This is the full set of candidates for the Scottish General Election on 7th May.
List of APRS Media Reports on Hyperscale Data Centres
Since we started our Campaign on hyperscale data centres in November 2025 we have achieved a really good amount of media coverage of the campaign. These are listed below.
Hyperscale AI Data Centres – briefing for MSPs
SCCS have written to the First Minister and the other party leaders calling for a moratorium on hyperscale data centres until they have studied the impacts on grid, climate and communities and have an appropriate definition for 'green data centre' and have put hyperscale and AI data centres on schedule 1 of the EIA regulations. This briefing gives more information on hyperscale data centres planned in Scotland.
Natural Environment Bill, National Parks section – stage 3 breifing
This is a briefing we have written for MSPs to inform the Stage 3 debate on the Natural Environment Bill.
Stage 1 Briefing – Natural Environment Bill
We wrote this Briefing for MSPs ahead of the Stage 1 debate on the Natural Environment Bill which takes place on 30th October 2025.
Data Centre Briefing
This is a short briefing on data centres including he situation in Scotland, the UK and further afield, energy requirements and impact on energy prices and targets for net zero.