英国能源监管机构Ofgem提议对数据中心项目征收高额前期费用，以缓解日益严重的电网接入排队问题[1]。目前有315个数据中心项目排队等待电网连接，其总电力需求达73GW，超过英国峰值电力需求45GW约30GW[1]。
根据Ofgem的方案，数据中心运营商（包括亚马逊和微软等）如要预留500MW的电网容量，需支付3.5亿英镑的担保金[1]。此外，这些项目还需达到特定的里程碑目标，未能按期达成者将被移出接入队列[1]。
全球范围内，能源需求在100MW以上的数据中心项目在2021至2024年间共有250个被宣布[1]。据行业研究机构Uptime预测，这些全球项目中约有50%可能无法如期实现或面临延期[1]。
Britain's energy regulator Ofgem has proposed imposing substantial upfront fees on datacentre projects seeking grid connections, a measure designed to address the mounting backlog of facilities waiting to connect to the network.[1] The proposal would require datacentre operators, including major companies such as Amazon and Microsoft, to post a £350 million security deposit to reserve 500MW of grid capacity.[1] Projects would also need to meet specified milestone targets or face removal from the connection queue.[1]
The pressure to implement such measures reflects the scale of current demand.[1] Some 315 datacentres are currently queued for grid connections, collectively requiring 73GW of power—nearly 30GW more than Britain's peak electricity demand of 45GW.[1] This surge in datacentre expansion is part of a broader global trend, with approximately 250 energy-intensive datacentre projects announced between 2021 and 2024.[1] Industry analysis suggests that roughly half of these global projects may fail to proceed or face significant delays.[1]