So much for power to the people – AI datacenters could jump UK grid queue

The British government is consulting on reforms to prioritize "strategically important" grid connections – including datacenters – amid reports of delays stretching more than a decade on some projects.

The connection queue ballooned after the government's AI Opportunities Action Plan, unveiled at the start of 2025, encouraged a wave of datacenter construction. Applications to the transmission network grew 460 percent in the six months to June.

The finger of blame is being pointed at speculative applications inflating the pipeline, delaying connections for strategically important projects. This has contributed to waits for some developers of up to 15 years to get connected to the grid, or so Westminster claims.

To clear the backlog, the government is consulting on measures to tackle speculative applications and accelerate "viable projects that will benefit Britain." This includes datacenters, AI Growth Zones, electrified industrial sites, and charging hubs for electric vehicles.

The move is already stoking fears ...