There’s a bonus benefit we can unlock. If we co-locate data centres behind the meter with new or existing CCGT, sized to match the inflexible portion of its generation (CCGT power stations cannot operate continuously below a certain load factor, their stable export limit), then we can help solve the “missing money” problem of gas power generation, without spending a penny on transmission infrastructure.

That is to say we can fund the building of cheap (marginal cost), efficient and less carbon intensive CCGTs instead of expensive inefficient gas peakers, while getting the flexibility benefits of its headroom!

We need to know that we will have dispatchable capacity online to keep the system running in winter, all current plans involve large capital investment in a new gas fleet. This can fill that gap, with a huge win win win for the consumer, data centre and generator.