September has seen a surge of announcements about AI and data centre investment and growth in the UK, with Microsoft pledging to invest £22 billion in AI infrastructure as part of their commitment to build the country's largest supercomputer in partnership with Nscale. The investment will also expand Microsoft's data centre footprint in the UK to support the growing demand for AI.

At the same time Google announced its own two-year, £5 billion investment in the UK with the opening of its new Waltham Cross data centre by Chancellor Rachel Reeves. The investment "will help the UK develop its AI economy and unlock AI breakthroughs across the UK, fortify cybersecurity, and create future-focused career opportunities for millions of Brits," according to Google, with the Chancellor adding that the investment "is a powerful vote of confidence in the UK economy and the strength of our partnership with the US, creating jobs and economic growth for years to come."

But such powerful investments also require an awful lot of actual power to make them run, and questions remain about the energy demands of the UK's rapid data centre growth. A new report this week from commercial property insurer FM, 'Foundation at risk: assessing the resilience of data centres and digital infrastructure', has found that AI's explosive growth will result in a 60% surge in energy demand by 2028.

"Our research underscores the reality that as AI adoption accelerates, the resilience of our digital infrastructure faces a critical test," said Jonathan Birdwell, Global Head, Policy & Insights at Economist Impact. "Rising energy demand, heightened cybersecurity threats, and grid instability are converging to create systemic risks that can no longer be ignored." At a time when energy costs for the average consumer seem to be spiraling out of control it remains to see if the UK also has the energy to support our brave new AI world.

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