National Grid launches data centre substation
The new network upgrade includes SF6-free substation in Buckinghamshire to power data centres, support digital growth, and reduce emissions.
Image for illustrative purposes
UK: National Grid has begun construction of a major new substation at Uxbridge Moor in Buckinghamshire, designed to supply electricity to more than a dozen new data centres. This key infrastructure project supports the UK’s accelerating digitalisation and aligns with the country’s transition to a low-carbon economy.
Part of a broader $40 B upgrade to the UK’s transmission network (planned for 2026–2031), the substation will help meet rapidly rising energy demand from new technologies and sectors. Once complete, it will deliver 1.8 GW of capacity, the equivalent of powering a mid-sized city near London, making it the largest substation by capacity on National Grid’s network.
The site will house two indoor gas-insulated switchgear (GIS) substations – one 400 kV and one 132kV – engineered to reduce land use by around 70 %. Importantly, both will operate without sulphur hexafluoride (SF6), a potent greenhouse gas. This marks a milestone in National Grid’s ambition to cut SF6 emissions by 50 % by 2030.
The project is being delivered by Murphy, which will construct the substation and install underground cabling to connect to the nearby overhead transmission line. The location borders the existing Iver substation, which has reached its maximum capacity.
According to government and industry leaders, this project is vital for ensuring energy security, job creation, and a resilient digital future.
Source: National Grid
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