Energy company EDF has announced plans to build a giant data center on the site of the closed Cottam coal-fired power station in the United Kingdom. The new facility will have a capacity of 500 megawatts, while total investment is estimated at £6 billion. EDF describes the project as the largest data center in Europe.
The Cottam power station operated from 1964 and was shut down several years ago. The site already has extensive industrial infrastructure, including grid connections, water supply systems and a convenient riverside location. Initially, the area was considered for residential development, but local residents pushed to preserve industrial jobs. In the end, the industrial redevelopment option prevailed.
The most notable feature of the project is that the power station will not simply be repurposed — it will become a “nuclear-powered” data center. EDF, together with US-based Holtec International and investment company Tritax, plans to install two small modular reactors (SMRs) at the site. These reactors are compact, safe and capable of supplying clean energy to energy-intensive facilities far from major grids. The solution is significantly greener than the coal generation that powered Cottam since the mid-20th century.
For the UK, the project is important for several reasons. First, it helps address the issue of abandoned industrial sites. Second, it will create thousands of jobs in the region. Third, it supports the development of small modular nuclear technology, which the British government is actively promoting as part of its strategy to achieve carbon neutrality.
The former coal-fired power station, once a symbol of the industrial era, will become a high-tech data processing hub powered by clean nuclear energy. The project is a clear example of how old infrastructure can be adapted to the needs of the digital economy.
Source: @Coala_russia
Image: @Coala_russia
