What will the data centre be doing?

The data centre will provide secure, high-capacity computing infrastructure to store, process, and analyse large volumes of digital information. It will be optimised for advanced workloads such as artificial intelligence, high-performance computing, and large-scale data analytics. Applications will include:

• Artificial intelligence (AI) model training and operation – supporting research, development, and deployment of AI systems across multiple industries.

• High-performance computing (HPC) – enabling large-scale simulations, scientific research, and complex modelling.

• Microgrid and energy network management – real-time monitoring and optimisation of renewable energy generation, distribution, and consumption.

• Healthcare systems support – secure processing of medical imaging, diagnostics, patient record systems, and data-driven treatment planning.

• Government and public service systems – hosting critical infrastructure for national security, emergency response, and digital government services.

• Financial services processing – high-speed transaction systems, fraud detection, and real-time risk modelling.

• Climate and environmental modelling – supporting weather forecasting, environmental monitoring, and renewable energy planning.

• Media and digital content delivery – storing and distributing high-resolution video, creative assets, and immersive digital experiences.

• Smart city and IoT integration – managing data from connected devices, transport systems, and urban infrastructure.

The facility will operate on renewable power, connected via high-speed terrestrial and subsea networks, making it an environmentally responsible and globally connected platform for critical digital services.

I worry about fire. Our fire station in Dunoon is quite small — will we have the ability to put the fire out?

Modern data centres are designed to prevent, detect, and contain fire at a very early stage — long before it becomes a serious hazard. Our facility will include:

• No combustible building fabric – the structure and fit-out use non-flammable materials wherever possible.

• Compartmentalised design – equipment halls are divided into independent fire zones to prevent spread.

• Continuous monitoring – advanced sensors detect smoke or heat at the earliest possible stage, often before a flame develops.

• Gas-based fire suppression – rather than relying on water, the system uses inert gas or clean agent suppression to quickly extinguish fire without damaging equipment or harming personnel.

• Automatic system activation – suppression is triggered instantly in the affected zone without waiting for manual intervention.

• Regular testing and compliance – all systems meet or exceed UK and international fire safety standards for critical infrastructure.

While the local fire service remains an important part of overall safety, these built-in protections mean the design does not depend on a large external firefighting capacity to control an incident. In practice, the aim is to prevent a small event from ever becoming a significant fire.

But you will be using batteries — they are dangerous and nothing puts them out?

Our design will use batteries as part of the uninterruptible power supply (UPS) system to ensure continuous power in the event of a grid interruption. We recognise that safety is a top concern, which is why we are planning to use Invinity vanadium flow batteries alongside other safe, proven technologies.

Vanadium flow batteries have a very different risk profile from conventional lithium-ion batteries:

• No thermal runaway – the liquid electrolyte is non-flammable, so there is no risk of the rapid, self-sustaining fires sometimes associated with lithium-ion.

• Long service life – flow batteries can operate for decades without degradation from frequent cycling.

• Scalable and modular – units are separated into self-contained modules, preventing a single fault from affecting the wider system.

• Safe operating temperature – they can run in a wide range of conditions without overheating risks.

• No water-reactive metals – unlike lithium systems, there are no materials that react violently to water.

For specific applications where lithium-ion or other chemistries are used (for example, in high-speed UPS switching), those systems will be in purpose-built, fire-rated enclosures with:

• Continuous temperature and electrical monitoring

• Automatic isolation of any affected unit

• Suppression systems designed for that chemistry

By selecting vanadium flow batteries for the bulk of our energy storage, we eliminate the single largest fire risk associated with conventional battery energy storage, while still meeting the performance demands of a high-capacity data centre.

Why are you going to ruin the area’s natural beauty by putting huge buildings here?

The project is being developed on a site that has operated as a quarry, not on untouched natural land. Our goal is to regenerate this previously industrial area, replacing the disturbed ground and quarry infrastructure with a modern, carefully designed facility that works with the landscape rather than against it.

Key measures include:

• Sensitive design and layout – low-profile buildings positioned to minimise visibility from surrounding viewpoints.

• Appropriate materials and colours – finishes chosen to blend with the natural tones of the surrounding hills and coastline.

• Landscaping and screening – new planting, earth mounding, and natural features to soften outlines and improve biodiversity.

• Noise and light controls – ensuring operations are quiet and lighting avoids sky glow or spill into neighbouring areas.

• Net environmental gain – introducing habitats, planting, and ecological features to enhance biodiversity compared with the current quarry condition.

• Minimal on-site workforce – modern data centres are largely managed remotely and operate with very small on-site teams, so daily traffic, noise, and general human impact are far lower than many other industrial uses.

Rather than damaging the region’s beauty, this redevelopment will transform an industrial site into a cleaner, quieter, and more visually sympathetic facility that delivers lasting local benefits while respecting the setting.

You will be polluting the rivers?

Our design and operations will ensure there is no release of pollutants into local rivers or waterways. Key safeguards include:

• Closed drainage systems – all site drainage will be collected and directed through treatment systems before leaving the site.

• No process effluent – the data centre does not generate chemical process waste; water use is limited to cooling and domestic facilities, both of which are managed in closed systems.

• Rainwater management – surface water will be filtered through oil interceptors and sediment traps to remove any contaminants before discharge.

• Spill prevention measures – fuel and chemical storage (for backup generators or maintenance) will be in bunded, sealed areas designed to contain 110% of the stored volume.

• Regulatory compliance – all systems will be designed, built, and monitored in accordance with SEPA (Scottish Environment Protection Agency) requirements and environmental permits.

• Continuous monitoring – automated systems will track water quality parameters and trigger alarms if any deviation is detected.

In reality, the data centre will have far less risk of river pollution than many existing industrial or agricultural uses, and the redevelopment will improve site drainage compared with the quarry’s current open-surface water management.

How will you use the waste heat?

The data centre will generate a steady flow of low-grade heat as part of its normal operation. Instead of allowing this heat to dissipate unused, we are planning to capture and repurpose it for local benefit. Potential applications include:

• Agriculture – providing heat to greenhouses to extend the growing season and increase local food production.

• Aquaculture – supporting fish farming by maintaining optimal water temperatures for certain species, improving yields and efficiency.

• Community heating – supplying warm water or air to nearby buildings through a district heating network.

• Industrial processes – partnering with local businesses that can integrate low-grade heat into their operations, reducing their energy costs and carbon footprint.

This approach turns a by-product into a resource, supporting local industry, food security, and sustainability while reducing waste. It also reinforces the data centre’s role as a contributor to the circular economy rather than a passive energy consumer.

The Giants Burn wind farm is being built for you — and we don’t want it.

No wind farm is being built specifically for our data centre. The facility will not rely solely on the public grid — our primary power will come from a dedicated wave-energy project in the Atlantic, delivered via a private wire as part of an off-grid capable microgrid. The public grid will only be used as a supplementary source when required.

Key points:

• No dedicated wind farm – we are not commissioning or requiring the construction of a specific wind farm for our operations.

• Independent renewable supply – the main energy source will be a privately-owned wave energy array, providing stable, predictable power directly to the site.

• Private wire delivery – primary power will be transmitted via a dedicated cable from the generation site to the data centre, bypassing the public grid entirely.

• Off-grid microgrid capability – the site will operate as its own energy system with on-site generation, storage, and distribution, reducing reliance on the national grid.

• Using existing capacity – when the grid is used, our supply will come from the wider UK system, which already includes a large proportion of renewable generation from wind, hydro, and solar.

• Encouraging green power – we will contract for renewable electricity wherever possible, supporting Scotland’s existing renewable sector rather than dictating new infrastructure.

• Flexible sourcing – if new renewable projects are built in the region, they will form part of Scotland’s broader energy transition and serve multiple users, not just our facility.

The goal is to operate the data centre in line with Scotland’s decarbonisation strategy, using a dedicated renewable supply for the majority of operations while supporting the national transition to clean energy.

The increase in electric vehicles is the current driver for power demand — won’t you make it worse?

The rapid adoption of electric vehicles (EVs) is one of the biggest factors driving increased electricity demand across the UK. Our project is being designed to operate without adding unsustainable pressure to the public grid — and in fact, our primary supply will come from a dedicated wave-energy project in the Atlantic, delivered via an off-grid microgrid with a private wire connection.

Key points:

• Independent primary supply – the main power will come from a privately-owned wave energy array in the Atlantic, providing stable, predictable renewable energy directly to the data centre.

• Private wire delivery – energy will be transmitted via a dedicated private cable, bypassing the public transmission network entirely for primary supply.

• Off-grid microgrid capability – the site will operate as an independent microgrid, with its own generation, storage, and distribution systems, reducing reliance on the national grid.

• Grid as a supplementary source only – any additional power needs will be met from renewable contracts through the existing Scottish energy mix, and only when required.

• Energy storage integration – on-site vanadium flow batteries will store surplus wave energy for use during lower generation periods or grid stress events.

• Load management – non-urgent computing workloads can be scheduled to run when renewable supply is abundant, ensuring we do not compete with peak-time EV charging demand.

By using a dedicated renewable supply with private wire and microgrid capability, we avoid placing additional strain on the public grid while contributing to Scotland’s clean energy economy.

So you will clutter the skyline with pylons instead — that’s not progress.

No. We agree — we don’t like pylons either. The private wire connection from the Atlantic wave energy project to the data centre will be designed to avoid visual intrusion and environmental harm. The main cabling will be buried in the seabed, not strung across the landscape.

Key points:

• Seabed routing – the primary cable will run beneath the seabed from the wave energy site to the shore.

• Careful installation – works will be planned and executed to minimise seabed disturbance, using best-practice techniques to protect marine habitats.

• Regulatory oversight – all marine works will be carried out under the supervision and approval of Marine Scotland, ensuring compliance with environmental safeguards.

• Underground on land – once ashore, the cable will be buried underground, following existing transport or service routes to keep it out of sight.

• No large-scale transmission pylons – our connection will not require the kind of tall pylons used for national grid transmission.

This approach delivers clean, renewable power without adding visual clutter to the skyline — and with strict environmental controls to protect the marine and coastal environment.

So instead you will put large windmills in the sea that we can see from the shore?

No. The project is based on wave energy, not offshore wind. Wave energy devices are much smaller than wind turbines and sit low in the water, often below the wave line, making them far less visible from shore.

Key points:

• Different technology – wave energy systems use floating or submerged platforms to capture the motion of the sea, not tall wind turbine towers.

• Low visual profile – offshore wind turbines can be visible from 15 km or more; our wave energy devices are low in the water and at a planned distance of around 4 km from shore, making them far less noticeable.

• Siting for minimal visibility – devices will be located and oriented to minimise sightlines from the coast.

• Environmental integration – careful placement and design minimise interference with marine life, fishing, and navigation.

• Regulatory oversight – Marine Scotland will review and approve all siting, environmental, and navigational factors before installation.

In short, there will be no large offshore wind farm — only low-profile wave energy devices, closer to shore but far less visible, designed to blend with the marine environment.