National Grid to site biggest substation on Teesside, near planned AI datacentre
New electricity generating capacity would enable north-east to attract investment for major datacentre projects National Grid has taken a step towards building Britain’s biggest electricity substation on Teesside, which could supply power to a vast neighbouring datacentre as the UK races to expand its AI infrastructure. Last week the company agreed to purchase 29.5 hectares (73 acres) of land at…
National Grid has acquired 29.5 hectares of land at Dorman Point in Teesside to construct Britain's largest electricity substation. This development could provide power to an upcoming AI-focused datacentre project, aimed at attracting investment to the region. The news comes after Teesworks, a local private-public partnership, was selected by the UK government as the site for a new artificial intelligence datacentre, with planning applications submitted for a project covering nearly 500,000 sq meters.
The National Grid's head of land, Matt Pearce, highlighted the importance of this infrastructure for the growth of AI and digital technologies, stating that the deal "reflects the constructive work between all those involved" and will support the region's industrial and economic development. Teesside's mayor, Ben Houchen, emphasized the urgency of having sufficient power capacity to compete with other regions, such as the US and the Gulf, for major datacentre projects.
The government has recently published a draft policy statement on datacentres, emphasizing the need for the UK to control the development of these facilities and ensure they benefit both the country and host communities. However, the rapid construction of datacentres in the UK has faced opposition from various campaign groups.
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