The Climate Action Committee is exploring the potential environmental impacts of the construction of hyperscale data centres in Scotland.

Data centres are facilities that store, manage or send electronic data and information. A hyperscale data centre is a large facility that can be used for internet-based applications, data processing and artificial intelligence (AI). As of the outset of this inquiry, there are no hyperscale data centres in Scotland.

The Committee wants to find out:

• about the potential impacts of the operation and construction of hyperscale data centres on:
  • water quality and consumption
  • air quality
  • nature and biodiversity, including soil quality
  • noise pollution
  • energy use, and associated generation (including of back up generation)
• emissions, and where emissions could be avoided by, for example, using waste heat how any negative impacts, can be mitigated or avoided
• what systems are, or should be, in place to support avoidance or mitigation of negative environmental impacts
• what can Scotland learn from other countries on the environmental impacts of hyperscale data centres
• how building and running hyperscale data centres might impact on achieving climate and nature goals

The inquiry aims to:

• increase public awareness of the environmental impacts of AI use and data centres in Scotland
• contribute to public and parliamentary debate and understanding on this issue from an environmental perspective
• influence Scottish Government action to address the climate and nature crises through their policy on data centres

The Committee agreed to take evidence on data centres in October and November 2026.

The Committee agreed that it may undertake further work on this issue and will consider its approach to that work at a later date.

Planning applications are a matter for local authorities. Specific planning applications for hyperscale data centres will not be considered in this inquiry.