The UK Power Grid Has a Phantom Data Center Problem

The UK’s power-grid queue has swollen from 41 GW to 125 GW between November 2024 and June 2025, with new data-center projects contributing 73 GW—1.5 times last year’s peak national demand. Ofgem proposes a nonrefundable deposit that could reach hundreds of millions for the largest sites and requires pre-secured customers and funding to curb speculative “phantom” entries. The reforms aim to reduce grid congestion and improve demand forecasting while avoiding deterring legitimate projects.