Thousands of demonstrators marched through Edinburgh on Saturday to protest the rapid expansion of large-scale artificial intelligence data centres across Scotland.
Crowds assembled at the top of the Royal Mile before marching toward the Scottish Parliament. Organizers and participants raised alarms over the massive energy consumption, potential household bill increases, and environmental strain tied to proposals currently moving through the planning system.
Protesters Demand a National Consultation on AI Infrastructure
More than 80 organizations backed the demonstration, including climate groups, trade unions, housing campaigners, anti-poverty charities, and local residents representing communities slated for major developments. Campaigners carried placards bearing slogans such as “People before data centres” and “AI data centres: costing the Earth” as part of a Europe-wide day of action. Speaking about the turnout, Friends of the Earth Scotland senior campaigner Kim Pratt said that an estimated 6,000 people attended the demonstration, driven by concerns that the projects would benefit major technology companies while leaving local communities to bear the environmental and financial costs.
Claire Robertson of the Edinburgh Trades Union Council said that the council stands in solidarity with community campaigners marching against the unchecked expansion of artificial intelligence data centres, warning that such facilities demand massive public infrastructure and resource support while returning virtually no secure, permanent, or unionised jobs for the local communities forced to host them.
Protesters pressed the Scottish Government for a moratorium on large-scale facilities until a comprehensive national strategy is established. Friends of the Earth Scotland senior campaigner Kim Pratt argued that communities have been shut out while tech corporations rush to secure land and power connections.
“We have had enough of hearing how the data centre developers have had a hotline to the decision makers while communities and environmental organisations are excluded. Now let us have our say!” Kat Jones, director of Action to Protect Rural Scotland (APRS) said.
Today we are sending a clear message to the Scottish Government. They have to stop ignoring the calls from civil society to be involved in discussions around the future of hyperscale AI data centres in Scotland.
Kat Jones, director of Action to Protect Rural Scotland, via STV News
Data Centre Proposals Threaten Scotland's Electricity Demand and Carbon Budget
The backlash follows mounting warnings from climate officials and opposition politicians over how much electricity the proposed facilities will demand. According to figures from the National Energy System Operator cited by STV News, 28 data centre proposals representing 8.9 gigawatts of power are currently in the queue for a grid connection—more than double Scotland’s current winter peak electricity demand. Environmental campaigners warned that if all 23 active proposals were approved, their total power demand would reach 9,100 megawatts, consuming over half of Scotland’s remaining carbon budget between 2026 and 2045 and potentially creating 14 million tonnes of new climate pollution annually.
Patrick Harvie, MSP, also expressed worry that both the Scottish and UK governments are being swept along with an AI agenda that serves the profits of unethical companies while local communities bear the costs.
In response to questions in Parliament, First John Swinney acknowledged these concerns but did not identify a specific assessment of the potential impact on electricity demand or bills, confirming instead that the government’s position would be set out before the end of the year.
Ahead of the march, Scottish Green MSP Laura Moodie pressed First John Swinney in Parliament regarding leaked government documents warning that locals could “bear the brunt of increased electricity prices” and face unreliable power supplies.
Local Opposition Targets Specific Mega-Projects Across Scotland
Protesters traveled from regions including Cockenzie, Dunbar, Larbert, Ravenscraig, North Ayrshire, Aberdeenshire, and the Borders. While Scotland’s largest existing data centre—operated by DataVita in Airdrie—has a capacity of around 12 megawatts, incoming proposals dwarf that scale.
Sarah Finlay of West Edinburgh Against Data Centres highlighted that local residents were never informed about a massive facility planned a quarter of a mile from their homes. Mary Ferrie of Ravenscraig Locals Against Mega Data Centres said that local elected representatives would not engage with their group or explain what was happening regarding a giant 550MW facility planned on their doorsteps.
A proposed facility at Chapelcross in Dumfries and Galloway is designed to reach 1,000 megawatts, which would make it one of the largest data centres in the world and use about 7 million MWh of energy annually—equivalent to the consumption of over two million homes.
It’s not going to enrich anybody’s lives. For Chapelcross it’s the sheer size of it, the amount of electricity it’s going to need.
Kim Cairns, a campaigner with Say No To Chapelcross AI Data Centre, via BBC Scotland News
Government Planning Guidance Expected Before the End of the Year
Planning decisions were put on hold by the Scottish Government in September until Christmas, with a pledge to release fresh guidance addressing environmental consequences, water and energy consumption, community benefits, and a clear criterion for what constitutes a “green” data centre.
Authorities responsible for planning must inform ministers about any incoming data centre proposals, and a new directive makes an Environmental Impact Assessment compulsory during the planning stage for all facilities exceeding 50 megawatts in power capacity.
