Scotland imposes mandatory environmental assessments on new datacentres

The Scottish Government has required mandatory environmental impact assessments for new data centers over 50 MW. The measure comes ahead of a Holyrood vote on a moratorium on hyperscale projects, which the authorities did not support.

• Threshold for mandatory environmental assessment is data centers over 50 MW
• Over 20 large data centers proposed in Scotland, including a project in Fife
• Scottish Greens demand a moratorium until a national strategy is adopted
• First four applications will require energy like Torness nuclear plant, closing in 2030