The data centre knowledge gap

Mark Pestridge at Telehouse Europe argues that closing the UK data centre knowledge gap is critical to delivering on the promise of AI

 

When the UK government announced a bold new AI plan for “a decade of national renewal” it put the spotlight on data centres as engines of future national prosperity. Demand for AI-ready infrastructure is expected to grow by 33% annually until 2030, with 70% of data centre capacity dedicated to advanced AI workloads.

 

The government had already made data centres part of the country’s critical national infrastructure (CNI) in what was a significant landmark, promising enhanced support in the face of adverse events such as cyber-attacks, IT outages, or extreme weather. This acknowledged that the value of data centres is fundamental to how the UK operates both now, and in the future. And they must be protected.

 

The challenge here is that as the government pushes forward with measures to streamline planning, public opinion may prove a stumbling block.

 

Lack of knowledge about data centres

New research by Telehouse found that more than two-thirds of UK adults (67%) are unaware what data centres are, or the impact they have on their daily lives.

 

Further to this, half of the 2,000 people in the survey have never heard of a data centre. Although 48% of respondents know data centres are necessary for the digital services they use at home and work, such as video streaming and online shopping, there remains a substantial knowledge gap. The scale and scope of data centre operations are poorly understood. More than four-in-ten (43%) are unaware of the vast number of people, applications, and data supported by the advanced devices housed and connected in data centres.

 

Public opinion matters

The UK government’s blueprint to turbocharge AI included designated growth zones to speed up planning for the necessary infrastructure, the first of which is in Oxfordshire. Even so, much of the publicity about the infrastructure which enables AI has to date focused on the negative effects on community infrastructure and utilities.

 

As the government admits, the energy demands of data centres require constant innovation - as has always been the case. It therefore becomes the responsibility of the data centre industry to prove it is delivering on these demands. It must educate the public about what they do and the sustainable measures they take to build lasting relationships with surrounding communities. This is a strategic investment to support the industry’s growth and attract the talent needed to sustain it.

 

The economic benefits of AI data centres

What is only starting to gain more prominence among the public, is the economic growth and social benefits that data centres will foster. Based on IMF estimates, the government calculates that if the nation fully embraces AI, it can boost productivity by up to 1.5 percentage points per year, worth £47bn to the UK each year for a decade. Alongside this, AI will enable significant advances in medicine such as faster and more accurate diagnosis, or safe provision of remote treatment and care.

 

There are many good messages to disseminate. If annual growth in data centre supply exceeds the current 10% to 15%, techUK estimates the sector could create more than 40,000 high-paying operational roles by 2035. The US International Trade Administration estimated the AI market in the UK to be worth more than $21bn in 2023 and forecast it to reach more than $1trn by 2035, designating it the third largest AI market in the world after the US and China.

 

Competitive pressures on AI infrastructure

Without more investment in digital infrastructure, the UK risks falling behind the initiatives underway in Europe and east Asia. The Nordic nations have attracted significant AI investment due to their lower operational costs, founded in cheaper, renewable energy and easier availability of land in sparsely-populated areas. This has created good locations for AI training models and AI factories.

 

Investors in South Korea, on the other hand, announced in February they were planning the world’s biggest data centre – a 3GW facility for AI, ultimately costing $35bn. The US also has its $500bn Stargate project announced by President Trump, while the French president, Emmanuel Macron announced €109bn of private AI investment.

 

 

Advances in sustainability

To educate its public, the UK’s data centre industry needs to trumpet the huge contribution it already makes to society, the economy, and how this will be multiplied by AI. Those at the forefront of the industry should also emphasise their sustainability initiatives such as the very significant use of renewable energy in many data centres, along with schemes to reuse waste heat.

 

Communities need to know about data centre innovation in energy-saving technologies, such as liquid cooling and about retrofitting established facilities with free cooling air-cooled systems will help relieve stress on energy and water use.

 

Techniques such as hot and cold aisle containment systems, for example, enhance airflow by preventing the mixing of hot and cold air, directing cool air where it is needed most. This targeted approach not only improves efficiency but also reduces overall energy consumption. Economisers, which tap into free cooling methods using outside air, add another layer of innovation.

 

Together, these solutions drive significant environmental benefits while cutting operational costs, showcasing how modernisation can achieve both sustainability and financial efficiency.

 

Data centre companies should also emphasise the expansion of apprenticeship models and training programmes to equip young people with the technical skills which the industry needs. Community engagement initiatives, such as volunteering and STEM workshops, will further cement links with local populations.

 

There is no question that the UK’s data centre industry is going to be under great pressure to deliver all the AI computing power that business, government and society need in the next decade. The industry will need to focus on winning over public opinion, reinforcing its role as critical national infrastructure. It will need to emphasise how innovation in sustainability is paying dividends for everyone.

 

By engaging with communities – including businesses, data centres will change attitudes and become the immensely powerful engines of economic growth they should be, critical to prosperity.

 

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Mark Pestridge is Executive Vice President and General Manager, Telehouse Europe

 

Main image courtesy of iStockPhoto.com and Oselote