Renewable Energy

From Steel to Silicon: Transforming Ravenscraig into a £3.9 Billion AI Data Hub

July 2, 2025

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Ravenscraig, the historic site of a former steelworks, is poised to become a leading green AI data centre in the UK through an ambitious £3.9 billion plan proposed by renewable energy developers, Apatura. This groundbreaking initiative aims to transform the area into a hub for AI technology, powered by renewable energy and equipped with state-of-the-art battery energy storage facilities.

The project is projected to create approximately 2,400 jobs, with over 1,000 of these being permanent employment opportunities based in North Lanarkshire. This revitalization is expected to enhance Scotland’s economy, contributing an additional 0.4% to the national GDP once operational. The proposal is currently under review by the UK government, which is considering it for support under its AI Growth Zone initiative, designed to designate optimal sites for AI projects across Britain.

Giles Hanglin, CEO of Apatura, emphasized Scotland’s potential to become a leader in green, AI-enabled digital infrastructure, citing the nation’s strengths in renewable energy, artificial intelligence, education, and big data. The plan includes collaborations with local authorities and organizations to ensure that the benefits of the data centre are felt throughout the community.

Additionally, the project aims to alleviate issues such as grid congestion and rising consumer bills, aligning with North Lanarkshire Council’s broader masterplan for the Ravenscraig site, which originally included plans for housing, schools, and businesses – a proposal that faced public backlash in 2021. After serving as a mass vaccination centre during the pandemic, the site is now ready for its next chapter as a technology powerhouse.

Located to the east of the Wishaw Deviation freight railway line, the new data centre will be situated on the designated vacant employment land known as SevenFourEight. Russell Wilkie, the director of Ravenscraig, affirmed the site’s capability to meet the UK’s evolving AI infrastructure demands, supported by established grid connections and a committed delivery team.

Ravenscraig’s transformation into an AI-ready site represents a significant shift in the local economy and a leap forward in the integration of green energy and advanced technological infrastructure in Scotland’s central belt.

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