City Hall is to set a new stance on new data centres in London, due to concerns about their vast power and water usage, officials have confirmed.
It is estimated that every 10 power-hungry data centres could result in 2.7million tonnes of carbon emissions, with further concerns about their substantial water usage.
In the UK, 60 out of 100 such units – which house IT infrastructure such as servers – are currently planned for London.
Megan Life, assistant director, environment and energy at the Greater London Authority (GLA), has confirmed City Hall is developing a new approach that would balance any economic benefits with environmental damage.
She told the London Assembly Environment Committee the policy would aim to "keep hold of the kind of economic growth benefits that data centres offer", while trying to mitigate against some "quite challenging" factors associated with their use of energy.
