Launch of UK’s ‘largest AI supercomputer’ delayed by power supply problems
Summary
The UK’s largest planned AI supercomputer, located in Loughton, Essex, will not launch in 2027 as planned due to power supply problems. The local power grid cannot provide enough electricity until the early to mid-2030s, delaying the project significantly.Key Facts
- The AI supercomputer is being built by UK startup Nscale at a site in Loughton, Essex.
- The supercomputer was announced in 2025 and described as the country’s largest AI datacentre.
- Power supply from the local grid is insufficient, causing a delay until the early to mid-2030s.
- The site previously functioned as a scaffolding yard but has now been cleared by Nscale.
- Nscale is investigating generating power onsite and speeding up the connection to the grid.
- There is a large backlog of datacentres waiting to connect to the UK National Grid, causing delays.
- The project needs about 90MW of power, enough for approximately 315,000 homes.
- UK Power Networks and the National Grid are working to find ways to speed up energy connections for large projects.
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