Background

The UK is facing a defining moment – to decarbonise the electricity system by 2030 whilst simultaneously positioning itself as a global leader in AI. The exponential rise in cloud computing and data services is driving rapid growth in data centre electricity demand; yet existing grid connection queues, legacy infrastructure and extensive, fragmented regulatory planning processes risk diverting economic investment overseas. In anticipation of these escalating challenges, the REA convened a senior industry roundtable whereby there was leading consensus that the REA’s cross-sector governance model is well suited to lead a coordinated response, bridging clean energy, digital infrastructure and government. Momentum has since accelerated, with the announcement of AI Growth Zones, public DCC launch with Ofgem and the REA’s formal invitation to join AI Energy Council working groups.

Now, our industry-led forum is working to translate this momentum into tangible outcomes, which shape the policy, market and investment frameworks that will underpin the UK’s digital and AI ambitions.

DCC Vision

Partnering with leading industry experts – enfinium, Greenscale, Apatura, Clarke Energy – REA’s DCC will:

• act as the industry’s key advisory body to government, connecting energy developers, data operators and policymakers – overcoming departmental silos on planning, energy and digital policy
• provide evidence-based input to government and regulators to enable clean, competitive growth in the UK’s digital infrastructure sector
• design an integrated national framework to support data centre expansion
• develop strategic roads maps identifying current/projected infrastructure capacity, investment pathways and technology readiness

alongside other valuable deliverables to ensure the economic growth from AI & data centre expansion accelerates investment in clean power.

For any further queries, please contact Matt or Steph