Two New Data Centres Will Outpace ExxonMobil’s UK Emissions

Two planned megadata centres in England will emit 4.5 million tonnes of CO₂ annually at full capacity, eclipsing the United Kingdom’s total emissions from ExxonMobil.

Carbon Onslaught from the New Data Hubs

■The Buckinghamshire and Bedfordshire sites are each designed to release 2.25 million tonnes of CO₂ per year.

■This equals 110 % of ExxonMobil’s combined UK fossil‑fuel emissions.

■Construction costs are estimated at £2 billion, while the carbon price penalty remains largely unquantified.

A Fresh Threat to the UK’s Climate Commitments

■Government target: net‑zero by 2030; these projects could push the deadline back by ≈20 %.

■Environmental NGOs are pressuring Ofgem and Ofwat to impose stricter emissions caps.

■A possible carbon‑tax hike could add £300 million per year to operators’ operating expenses.

Financial and Regulatory Ripple Effects

■Tech‑sector investors are revisiting ESG scores for data‑centre owners.

■Shares of listed data‑centre firms on the London Stock Exchange slipped 5‑7 % after the story broke.

■The European Central Bank (ECB) and Bank of England are beginning to embed climate‑risk adjustments into credit‑risk models for high‑energy‑intensity assets.

The carbon intensity of data centres is not merely an environmental concern; it is a material risk factor for financial stability and credit risk management. The ECB’s climate‑risk framework is likely to raise the cost of capital for such high‑energy assets, steering investment toward greener infrastructure. This shift will reshape the capital structure and long‑term profitability outlook of data‑centre developers.