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Thousands of individuals gathered in Edinburgh to participate in a demonstration opposing the construction of massive artificial intelligence data centres. Protestors carrying signs and wearing costumes gathered near the summit of the Royal Mile before proceeding on a march toward the Scottish Parliament building.
Community Concerns and Environmental Impact
The demonstration unfolds amid ongoing discussions regarding the environmental consequences of data centres, mirroring similar protests occurring across Europe. Participants displayed slogans bearing messages such as “AI data centres threaten humanity” and “AI data centres: costing the Earth.”
Several attendees came to express opposition to proposed data centre projects in specific local areas, including Cockenzie in East Lothian and Larbert in Falkirk. Kim Cairns, a campaigner representing the “Say No To Chapelcross AI Data Centre” group, told BBC Scotland News that her community fears disruptions such as noise, road closures, and access difficulties during construction, alongside continuous operational noise.
Kim Cairns stated in the interview, “It’s not going to enrich anybody’s lives. For Chapelcross it’s the sheer size of it, the amount of electricity it’s going to need.” She added, “At the moment it’s green fields with sheep and cows in it. It’s going to be a monstrosity on the environment. The air pollution, the light pollution – it’s just not needed.”
Scale of Proposed Projects
While artificial intelligence is viewed by some as a highly transformative technology, others have cautioned that rapid, unchecked development could potentially pose severe risks to humanity within the decade. In Scotland, the debate focuses heavily on the physical scale and local impact of these massive installations.
Currently, the largest operational data centre in Scotland is believed to be DataVita’s facility located in Airdrie, North Lanarkshire, which features a 12MW capacity. In contrast, a proposed facility in Chapelcross, Dumfries and Galloway, would reach a capacity of 1,000MW if approved, positioning it among the largest data centres globally. Political groups such as the Scottish Greens alongside various campaigners have demanded a moratorium on large data centres, warning they could jeopardize climate goals and strain renewable energy supplies.
Government Response and Regulation
Innovation Minister Alyn Smith previously compared data centres to the whisky bonds of the artificial intelligence sector, while also describing some public discourse on the matter as wild. Smith stated, “You’d think there wasn’t a planning system at all. Comparing a really bad data centre in the middle of the Utah desert doesn’t track through to what we’re going to have in Scotland.”
Conversely, Kim Pratt, a campaigner with Friends of the Earth, argued that local populations should hold the final decision regarding these projects. Pratt told BBC Scotland News that these installations will generate substantial profits for major technology companies while creating significant negative consequences for residents. She noted that the energy-hungry developments could drive up utility bills and climate pressures, adding that the government is rushing its review of technologies whose impacts remain largely unknown.
The Scottish government confirmed plans to release updated guidance on data centre planning before the conclusion of the year alongside a strategic approach to secure public benefits. Furthermore, a spokesperson noted that planning authorities must now inform ministers regarding new proposals, and a directive now requires an Environmental Impact Assessment for any proposed data centre exceeding a power capacity of 50 megawatts.
