Current knowledge exhibits that UK gasoline networks acquired over 100 connection enquiries from knowledge centre builders throughout 2024 and 2025, reflecting challenges builders face in accessing electrical energy grid capability.
Over this era, networks processed 113 gasoline connection enquiries, attributed to delays in electrical energy grid connection availability. Figures from Future Power Networks (FEN) point out an increase in exercise, with enquiries in 2025 roughly thrice increased than the earlier 12 months.
Fuel networks are at the moment dealing with 46 purposes, indicating ongoing demand. Seven purposes have been permitted, representing round 15.4 terawatt-hours of vitality capability, which is estimated as enough to warmth roughly 1.3 million houses.
Typical timelines for brand spanking new gasoline community connections vary from six to 24 months, in contrast with reported electrical energy grid connection instances of as much as 15 years. This distinction in timelines has contributed to curiosity in gasoline connections for knowledge centre developments.
Work is ongoing to discover methods to streamline gasoline connection processes. Choices into account embrace the usage of lower-carbon gases equivalent to biomethane, alongside broader efforts to combine electrical energy and gasoline methods to assist vitality system planning and improvement.
In parallel, knowledge centre vitality demand and infrastructure planning have been mentioned in coverage and trade boards, together with an Environmental Audit Committee session.
Internationally, related traits are being noticed. In america, knowledge centre growth has been related to elevated gasoline demand, whereas in Europe, a gas-connected knowledge centre has been launched in Eire, reflecting evolving approaches to vitality provide for digital infrastructure.
