PLANS have been launched to transform part of Ravenscraig into what could become one of the UK’s largest green AI data centres in a £3.9 billion project.
Edinburgh and York-based renewable energy developer Apatura is behind the plans, claiming the development could bring thousands of new jobs and billions of pounds of inward investment.
The plans would see the development of a major data centre with battery energy storage on 160 acres at the post-industrial site. The facility would be powered by 550 megawatts of grid connections due to come online by 2030.
Ravenscraig is one of five AI-ready sites Apatura is progressing across Scotland’s central belt, backed by over 1.6GW of confirmed grid connections, making them one of only a few UK developers ready to deliver AI infrastructure at this scale, it said.
The Ravenscraig data centre would harness Scotland’s growing supply of renewables – using constrained wind and solar generation that’s often wasted on windy, sunny days – helping to reduce grid congestion and lower consumer bills throughout the UK.
Once home to the Ravenscraig Steelworks, which closed in 1992, the site is now one of Europe’s largest brownfield regeneration and community creation initiatives, with a masterplan focused on sustainable and inclusive growth for a mixed-use site.
Apatura is working closely with North Lanarkshire Council and site owners Ravenscraig Ltd to advance the proposal. Last month, Apatura put forward Ravenscraig as a candidate in the UK Government’s AI Growth Zone initiative which is now under consideration by the Department for Science, Innovation & Technology.
The process is designed to identify the very best sites in Britain in what is becoming a global race for AI supremacy. The site has not yet been selected, and the bid remains under review – however, it is hoped the Ravenscraig site will be among a handful of winners selected for accelerated UK Government support.
Apatura said that the development could be ‘transformational’ for the area and the Scottish economy more broadly. It is estimated the project will cost £3.9 billion to build and an independent socio-economic study calculated that the Ravenscraig data centre would contribute an additional 0.4% to Scotland’s annual GDP once operational.
Furthermore, construction activity would deliver a one-off £1.2 billion GVA (gross value added) boost, supporting over 16,000 job years across Scotland; and ongoing annual GVA contribution is estimated at £729 million, supporting 2,399 long-term jobs (direct, indirect, and induced).
Additionally, developing high-demand data centres in Scotland’s central belt could play a vital role in reducing grid constraint payments, which cost nearly £1 billion last year and are forecast to rise to £3 billion by 2030.
Commenting on the bid, Apatura CEO Giles Hanglin, said, “This proposal plays strongly to Scotland’s strengths – in green energy, in AI, in education and in skills – and would complement the country’s significant capabilities in big data and research. We’ve secured the land and grid, and we’re already working closely with relevant organisations locally and nationally to make sure the benefits are widely felt.
“If we were selected as an AI Growth Zone it would be a significant endorsement of our ambition to make Scotland a powerhouse of green, AI-enabled digital infrastructure – starting with Ravenscraig and extending across the central belt.”
Russell Wilkie, director of Ravenscraig Ltd, added, “This is an exciting opportunity for Ravenscraig to be at the forefront of green data centres which will transform Scotland’s renewable power capabilities. With grid connections in place, land secured, and a delivery team aligned, we have a fully viable site within the Ravenscraig masterplan to meet the UK’s AI infrastructure needs.
“This multi-billion pound investment project is a platform for national progress, combining energy, digital infrastructure, and regional innovation to create tangible economic and social benefits for Scotland and for the wider UK economy.”
