Data Centres by Local Authority

Introduction
This dataset shows the capacity of operational and pipeline data centres in local authority districts that UK Power Networks has projects in.

This list has been determined using internal systems UK Power Networks uses to manage all committed projects in the process of connecting to our network, and authoritative open data provided by the Office for National Statistics (ONS).

To protect the identity of the sites, only capacities (in megavolt amperes, or MVA) have been disclosed and are aggregated at the local authority district level.

Methodological Approach

Operational and pipeline data centre projects are identified through desktop exercises using UK Power Networks' internal customer relationship management system and extracted.

Operational data centres were identified using internal desktop exercises and corroboration with external sources.
Pipeline data centre projects are projects that have accepted their connection offer, paid the application fee and have been committed to our delivery plans.

Using the ONS' authoritative dataset named "National Statistics Postcode Lookup (November 2019) for the UK", a local authority district is allocated to each data centre project based on its postcode provided to UK Power Networks in the application stage.
Capacities for both connected and pipeline data centres (in MVA) are then summed up to local authority district level.
The resultant capacity figures are then cross-checked to ensure all projects matched on to a local authority district. Any discrepancies are manually reviewed.

Quality Control Statement

Quality Control Measures include:

The dataset is primarily built upon internal data, relating to data centre projects in UK Power Networks' licence areas.
Data have been checked with both automatic and manual validation methods.

Assurance Statement
The dataset is generated through a manual process, conducted by the Distribution System Operator's Regional Development Team.

The dataset will be reviewed quarterly to assess any changes, and to determine if any updates to the methodology are necessary.
This process ensures that the dataset remains relevant and reflective of the data centre projects UK Power Networks is aware of.

To protect the identity of the sites, only capacities (in megavolt amperes, or MVA) have been disclosed and are aggregated at the local authority district level so as not to disclose the identity of any one person or business.

Other
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Definitions of key terms related to this dataset can be found in the Open Data Portal Glossary: https://ukpowernetworks.opendatasoft.com/pages/glossary/To view this data please register and login.