TECH & AI

“ Kao Data is delighted to see the Government ’ s announcement naming data centres as critical national infrastructure , fulfilling a pledge made in the 2024 Labour manifesto . “ This announcement comes at a crucial inflection point for the sector , with demand for data centres rising significantly due to the growth of AI . It signals the UK ’ s commitment to building sustainable infrastructure fit for an AI-driven future .

“ Kao Data believes data centres can play a key role in regenerating former industrial sites , contributing to economic renewal without the need to relax planning permissions or build on greenbelt land .

“ The announcement recognises the significant opportunities that new data centres can bring to the UK economy , but this should be viewed as just the first step . It highlights the growing importance of data centres to the UK economy .”

DOUG LOEWE CEO , KAO DATA

As the demand for AI and other transformative technologies continued to dominate the global data centre market in 2024 , it raised the debate over how facilities could be operated sustainably .

As part of this , the public has focused on the massive energy consumption of data centres , causing many companies and governments to push for more energy-efficient designs and the use of renewable energy sources . The Republic of Ireland , for instance , was forced to introduce a ban on new construction in certain areas because of energy constraints . This has ultimately led to data centre builders and operators

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