Greens demand UK moratorium on new data centres over water and energy use

Green Party leader Zack Polanski has urged the UK government to impose a temporary moratorium on the approval of new data centres, citing concerns over their water and energy consumption. Polanski said the government should introduce stricter environmental rules and give communities a greater say on whether such facilities are built in their area.

Polanski made the remarks during a visit to a site in East London where a new data‑centre project is being considered. “We need to slam the brakes on these energy‑guzzling, water‑guzzling data centres,” he told the BBC. “At a time when three‑quarters of the country are in drought, it is outrageous that these are being considered critical infrastructure.”

The call comes as the United Kingdom’s data‑centre sector grows rapidly. The BBC reported in 2023 that there were approximately 477 data centres operating in the UK, with plans for many more. Most are concentrated around London and the south of England, regions that are currently experiencing official drought conditions. Data centres use water mainly for cooling electronic equipment, and the amount required varies with size, design and local climate; hotter areas need more water.

Polanski argued that the sector’s designation as “critical infrastructure” in 2024 gives it priority for government support during incidents such as cyber‑attacks or extreme weather, and that it could also be granted priority over households for water during shortages. The government, however, maintains that data centres do not automatically receive priority in water supply during crises.

There is no official figure on how much water data centres consume in the UK. A consultancy, the Water Research Centre, estimated in February that centres in England use about 1.9 billion litres of drinkable water a year, roughly 0.2 % of the non‑household market. The estimate notes a “clear upward trend” in water use. The environmental charity Global Action Plan has suggested that large centres could consume up to 1.5 million litres per day.

Polanski and the Greens have called for data centres to be built on brownfield sites near renewable energy sources, and for owners to provide annual figures on water and electricity consumption. The Greens also want developers to plan for clean power, responsible water use, British job creation and local investment.

The government has defended the sector, arguing that a pause would cause the UK to lose investment and make it dependent on overseas computing for sensitive data processing. A government spokesperson said: “A pause on building new data centres would simply send investment and good jobs abroad, while leaving Britain dependent on overseas computing for the processing of sensitive health and defence data. Put simply: it would be a disaster for jobs and national security.” The spokesperson added that the moratorium would not be a blanket approval for all projects, but that developers must plan to use clean power, use water responsibly, create British jobs and supply chains, and provide investment to the communities in which they are built.

The government has also said that ministers have not yet carried out an environmental assessment of the “Delivering AI Growth Zones” strategy. A spokesperson said the paper is a statement of intent rather than a formal policy moving towards implementation.

The debate highlights a clash between the need to support the UK’s growing artificial intelligence and digital economy and the environmental impact of the sector. While data centres are seen as critical for national security and economic competitiveness, their water and energy demands raise serious sustainability concerns, especially in drought‑prone regions. The Greens’ call for a temporary ban seeks to balance these competing priorities, but the government warns that any halt could have significant economic and security repercussions.