THE Scottish government must “get a grip” on the number of planned data centres and put Scotland’s needs ahead of “the demands of US big tech giants,” say environmental campaigners.

Dr Kat Jones of Action to Protect Rural Scotland issued the warning as the charity launched an interactive online map of the hyperscale data centre projects currently making their way through the planning system.

Dr Jones said: ”It is vital that we get the information out to help people see the extent of the threat posed to Scotland by hyperscale AI data centres.

“This map and the information we have published on each one of these huge developments reiterates the need for the Scottish government to get a grip on the proliferation of hyperscale AI data centre applications across Scotland.

“If all these were operating, it would more than double Scotland’s energy use, which is obviously ludicrous and would be ruinous for both our energy grid and our climate targets.”

She said: “The task of the Scottish government in considering a definition of a ‘green data centre’ will be to decide what size of data centre would actually serve Scotland’s needs, rather than the demands of US big tech giants to build their global supremacy.”

Insisting that “planning authorities have a responsibility to consider the environmental implications of all developments which require planning permission,” a Scottish government spokesperson responded: “Scotland is seeking to position itself as the home of green data centres, and we have recognised these nationally important developments in our National Planning Framework 4.

“We want to secure commercial investment in data centres that are powered from Scotland’s rich renewable energy capacity, are energy efficient and minimise the draw on resources.”