The fee would be refunded upon energization and forfeited if the project exits the queue early. Ofgem said data centers account for roughly 73 GW in the queue, raising concerns that nonviable applications are delaying credible projects and distorting future network planning. “This will rule out many of the more speculative projects for prioritization straightaway, benefiting viable developments.” “This could benefit those major operators and hyperscalers with an existing presence in the UK over smaller players and new entrants.” Related:Power Bottlenecks Push Data Centers Beyond Traditional Hubs“In essence, smaller developers are going to need to be more creative in how they secure power for projects,” Lesnjak said.