Google’s plans to build two large data centres in the UK may be more environmentally damaging than initially reported. New review of planning documents reveals that the company has significantly underestimated the carbon emissions these projects will produce. Experts say the true impact could be five times higher than what Google has claimed.

Misleading Emissions Figures in Planning Documents

Google is proposing two massive data centres in Essex—one in Thurrock and another at North Weald airfield. For these projects, developers are supposed to calculate how much carbon they will emit over time. However, according to analysis by the nonprofit Foxglove, Google’s documents compared one year of emissions with the UK’s total five-year carbon budget. This comparison makes their environmental impact look five times smaller than it actually is.

The same issue appears with Greystoke’s proposed data centre in Lincolnshire. The company’s planning documents also seem to have overstated the emissions savings by using the same flawed comparison. When all three developments are combined, they would account for over 1% of the UK’s entire carbon budget for 2033—roughly the same emissions as a medium-sized city like Bristol. This stark difference raises questions about how accurately these projects are being presented to authorities and the public.

Experts Say Google Is Misleading the Public and Authorities

Tim Squirrell, from Foxglove, criticized Google for these miscalculations. He explained that by comparing one year’s emissions to five years’ UK emissions, Google has made its projects seem far less harmful. “They’re making the environmental impact look five times smaller than it really is,” he said. Squirrell argues that unless Google provides a clear explanation, it’s misleading local councils and the public about the true climate costs of these data centres.

This isn’t the first time concerns have been raised about the environmental claims of AI infrastructure projects. Recently, there has been a growing gap between government plans to cut emissions and the actual energy use estimates for AI and data centres. For example, Google’s Thurrock site claims its emissions will be just 0.033% of the UK’s total carbon budget between 2028 and 2032, but the real figure will likely be five times higher at 0.165%. Similarly, North Weald’s emissions are understated by a factor of five as well, with actual emissions reaching over 0.2% of the UK’s total from 2033 to 2037.

Potential Environmental Impact of the Data Centres

These developments could have serious environmental consequences. The Thurrock centre will produce more emissions than an international airport, while Elsham Tech Park in Lincolnshire could emit up to 1 million tonnes of CO2 annually at its peak—almost matching the total emissions from all UK domestic flights in a year. Despite claims that the projects will have only a minor impact, experts warn that their true footprint is much larger.

Both Google and Greystoke have argued that their projects will cause only “tolerable” or “insignificant” environmental damage. Greystoke’s plans include efforts to boost biodiversity, such as planting wildflower grasslands and installing bird and bat boxes. However, these efforts do not negate the fact that the projects will significantly contribute to UK’s carbon emissions. Local officials say planning processes are ongoing, and proper assessments of the true emissions are yet to be made public.

Overall, these revelations highlight the need for more transparency and accuracy in evaluating the environmental impact of large infrastructure projects. As the UK moves toward its climate goals, understanding the real emissions from data centres and AI infrastructure becomes crucial. Without honest reporting, efforts to reduce emissions could be undermined, delaying progress on climate commitments.

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• https://www.theguardian.com/technology/2026/may/09/google-developers-significantly-misstate-carbon-emissions-of-proposed-uk-datacentres