Renewable energy developer Apatura has submitted plans to develop a major data centre with battery energy storage on 160 acres of land at the former Ravenscraig steelworks in Scotland.
The site, which is located to the east of Glasgow, would be powered by 550 megawatts of grid connections due to come online by 2030 and would harness Scotland’s growing supply of renewables.
Apatura is working closely with North Lanarkshire Council and site owners Ravenscraig Ltd to advance the proposal. Last month, Apatura put forward Ravenscraig as a candidate for the government’s AI Growth Zone initiative, which is now under consideration by the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology. It is estimated the development will cost £3.9bn to build.
Giles Hanglin, CEO of Apatura, said: “This proposal plays strongly to Scotland’s strengths – in green energy, in AI, in education and in skills – and would complement the country’s significant capabilities in big data and research. We’ve secured the land and grid, and we’re already working closely with relevant organisations locally and nationally to make sure the benefits are widely felt. If we were selected as an AI Growth Zone it would be a significant endorsement of our ambition to make Scotland a powerhouse of green, AI-enabled digital infrastructure – starting with Ravenscraig and extending across the central belt.”
Russell Wilkie, director of Ravenscraig, added: “This is an exciting opportunity for Ravenscraig to be at the forefront of green data centres which will transform Scotland’s renewable power capabilities. With grid connections in place, land secured, and a delivery team aligned, we have a fully viable site within the Ravenscraig masterplan to meet the UK’s AI infrastructure needs.
“This multi-billion pound investment project is a platform for national progress, combining energy, digital infrastructure, and regional innovation to create tangible economic and social benefits for Scotland and for the wider UK economy.”
