If all 24 applications were approved, they will use up to 1 and 1/2 times our peak energy use for the whole of Scotland.

Analysis of the hyperscale data centre applications in the Scottish planning system found around 24 major proposals which, if all approved at requested capacity (~6,000 MW), would exceed 1.5 times Scotland's current total peak electricity demand. This matches the claim, though it is a projection based on applied-for capacity rather than confirmed build-out.

▸ Environmental Rights Centre for Scotland (analysis of planning applications) — Data centres in the Scottish planning system would double Scotland's energy demands

Checked Wed 1 Jul, 09:59 · Broadcast: First Minister's Questions (Party Leaders) - 25 June 2026

Method note. Verdicts are anchored to the data of the sources cited next to each check, never a judgement on people. When the evidence is not enough, the result is “Unverifiable”; no claim is marked as unconfirmed without a primary source cited. The summary of the fact-checking method is public, and re-examined results go into the corrections log. How we work →

This verdict is digitally signed (Ed25519): anyone can verify its integrity offline with the signature proof →

Verdicts produced by an automated system, with the source cited and a digital signature; re-examined results go into the corrections log.

More fact-checks of “First Minister's Questions (Party Leaders) - 25 June 2026”

True · The budget for core college funding increased by 10% to 764 million pounds.

True · We are providing 198 million pounds a year to support 25 and a half thousand new modern apprenticeships, 5,000 new fo...

All fact-checks of this broadcast → · Verified archive →