Google plans to build a new data centre in Thurrock, Essex, covering 52 hectares and expected to emit over 570,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year, equivalent to around 500 short-haul flights weekly.
The project is part of a broader push to expand artificial intelligence (AI) infrastructure in the UK, supported by both the US and UK governments.
The British government anticipates a thirteenfold increase in computing demand for AI by 2035 and is accelerating investments in data centres, including partnerships with companies like Nvidia and OpenAI. Environmental groups warn that more data centres could increase greenhouse gas emissions and strain energy and water resources.
While planners argue the emissions are relatively small compared to the UK’s carbon budgets, groups like Foxglove criticise the government for prioritising tech company profits over environmental and public interests. The Thurrock site is partially developed land and part of several major projects, including a £10bn data centre in Northumberland.
Reference
Booth, R. (2025, 15 septiembre). Google’s huge new Essex datacentre to emit 570,000 tonnes of CO2 a year. The Guardian. https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2025/sep/15/google-datacentre-kent-co2-thurrock-uk-ai