Construction of UK’s ‘largest supercomputer’ delayed over power supply problems
Datacentre hailed by government was supposed to launch next year but may be held back into mid-2030s A huge datacentre project hailed by the UK government will miss its launch date next year and could be delayed into the mid-2030s. The site in Loughton, Essex, was described as the country’s largest AI supercomputer when it was announced in 2025, but power supply problems mean it now faces a…
The UK government's ambitious plan to host the world's largest AI supercomputer in Loughton, Essex, faces significant delays due to power supply issues. Initially announced as a 2027 launch, the project's construction now appears to be pushed back into the mid-2030s. The datacentre, being built by UK-based startup Nscale, was expected to generate up to 90MW of capacity, comparable to the energy usage of around 315,000 homes.
UK Power Networks, responsible for connecting the site to the local power grid, has informed Nscale that sufficient power will not be available until the early to mid-2030s. This delay highlights the challenges in meeting the escalating energy demands of large datacentre projects. Nscale remains committed to the project, exploring solutions such as onsite power generation and expedited connection processes.
Meanwhile, the UK government's decision to highlight the Loughton supercomputer in its AI strategy underscores the critical role of energy infrastructure in advancing AI technology. Ofgem, the energy industry regulator, warns of a backlog of datacentre applications, with 315 projects currently queued, demanding 73GW of power – more than the country's peak energy demand.
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