- Latos plans to open 40 data centres across the UK by 2030, starting with a tier three facility in Cardiff powered by 100% renewable energy.
- The Cardiff site will create 1,000 construction jobs and 200 permanent roles, supporting high-performance AI applications like autonomous vehicles.
The artificial intelligence boom is reshaping the tech landscape, and Latos Data Centres is stepping up to meet the demand. The company announced a bold initiative to establish 40 new data centres across the UK by 2030, starting with a major development near Cardiff.
What happened
Latos has secured planning permission for its first hyperscale site near Cardiff, marking the beginning of an ambitious expansion strategy. Spanning 50,400 square metres, this tier three data centre will utilise 100% renewable energy from the national grid, with backup power sourced from Tremorfa Energy Park—one of the world’s largest battery energy storage facilities. The centre will boast a capacity of 90MVA, catering to high-performance computing demands.
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Construction on the Cardiff facility is set to begin immediately, bringing 1,000 construction jobs to the local economy. Once operational, the centre will create 200 permanent roles and an additional 300 positions in the regional supply chain.
The company has designed its facilities with a focus on energy efficiency, security, and scalability to support advanced AI use cases like autonomous vehicles and smart manufacturing. This aligns with the growing demand for AI-ready data centres, projected to rise by 33% annually until 2030.
Why this is important
Latos’ expansion reflects the increasing reliance on data centres in an AI-driven world. As technologies like machine learning and natural language processing grow more prevalent, the need for high-performance and low-latency infrastructure becomes critical. These new facilities could provide a significant boost to local economies while reinforcing the UK’s position in the global data centre market, valued at $300 billion in 2024 and expected to surpass $480 billion by 2029.
However, the energy-intensive nature of data centres cannot be overlooked. With Ireland’s facilities already consuming up to 21% of the country’s electricity supply in 2023, concerns about sustainability and grid capacity are rising. While Latos’ commitment to renewable energy addresses these issues, it underscores the broader challenge of balancing technological advancement with environmental impact.
The Cardiff project is just the start. If Latos delivers on its vision, the company could help redefine the UK’s data centre landscape, providing vital infrastructure to support the AI revolution.
