Data Centre Plan in Cardiff Could Be Powered by a Gas Power Plant

A company called Curtis Hall wants to build a large data centre in Cardiff, Wales. It plans to use the site of a park and ride near Llanrumney. To get the centre running, the company may build a gas power plant next door to supply electricity.

Curtis Hall says the gas plant is only a 'worst-case scenario.' If the data centre connects to the national electricity grid in time, the gas plant might never be used at all. But planning papers show the plant could run for up to five years, from 2028 to 2033.

The gas plant would have five gas turbines, a steam generator, and two turbines on standby. Its power output would be capped at 49.9 megawatts. In Wales, plants that produce 50 megawatts or more need special government approval, but Curtis Hall denied it was staying just below that limit on purpose.

People living near the site have raised concerns. James George said he was worried about noise and pollution from diesel generators. Alexander Grant feared for patients and staff at the nearby University Hospital of Wales. Resident Dale Harvey said extra generator noise on top of the busy A48 road nearby was 'not great.'

Environmental group Friends of the Earth Cymru called the project 'climate-wrecking.' Director Jenny Lloyd said approving it was 'completely irresponsible' given recent heat waves and flooding worries. Many local politicians agreed, with almost all of the area's Members of the Senedd (MSs) formally objecting to the plan.

Cardiff Council has an agreement to sell the site to Curtis Hall, but the Welsh government may take over the planning decision. Until that is settled, Cardiff Council cannot approve the project. The Welsh government is also writing a new national policy on data centres, due before the end of the year.

Curtis Hall says the development would bring big benefits to Cardiff. These include well-paid jobs, new investment, and a new bridge and road for walkers and cyclists. The company also says the plant's noise would not reach nearby homes and that air quality would not be seriously harmed.

Data centres are in high demand worldwide because of the rise of artificial intelligence, or AI. These large buildings are packed with computer servers that store and process huge amounts of information. They use a lot of electricity, making it hard to find a power source that does not harm the environment.

Wales's planning minister, Siân Gwenllian, said data centres are needed for a modern economy. However, she said they 'must be on our terms.' Cardiff Council is also looking for a new location for the park and ride, with a public consultation open until 28 October.