Can the UK grid keep up with growing data centre demand?

As AI, cloud computing and digital services drive demand for data centres, access to reliable, affordable power is becoming a critical challenge.In this episode of Talking Power, we explore what’s holding back new data centre connections in the UK and what could help unlock capacity.Jamie Allen from Iron Mountain Data Centres and David Ferguson from EDF discuss the challenges around grid connection queues, the rising energy requirements of data centres, and whether the traditional expectation of highly resilient power needs to evolve.They also explore the potential role of flexible grid connections, renewable generation, batteries, corporate PPAs, behind-the-meter supply and demand shifting in helping data centres access power faster, as well as what policy and regulatory changes could help the UK remain competitive.In this episode:Why securing grid capacity has become such a challengeHow AI is changing data centre power requirementsThe impact of UK electricity costs on investmentWhether data centres can become more flexible in how they consume -  powerThe potential for renewables, batteries and alternative grid connectionsHow unused or underused capacity could be unlockedWhat needs to change to accelerate UK data centre developmentWant to get in touch? Send us a mesage!Talking Power is EDF Business and Wholesale's podcast bringing together voices from across the energy industry to talk about the future of UK power. Want to get involved in the conversation? Reach out on LinkedIn: business-wholesale-services 

Why are business energy bills rising, and what can businesses do about it?In this episode of Talking Power, host David Edmonds is joined by Jacob Briggs, Energy Users Lead at Cornwall Insight, to unpack the factors driving rising energy costs for UK businesses.While wholesale prices often dominate the conversation, they're only part of the picture. Jacob explains how network investment, policy costs, electrification and changing charging structures are reshaping energy bills, and why energy management is becoming a strategic business issue rather than simply a procurement exercise.The discussion also explores practical ways businesses can respond, from onsite solar and battery storage to flexibility services, corporate PPAs and smarter energy procurement strategies.Whether you're responsible for energy, sustainability, finance or operations, this episode offers valuable insight into the changing energy landscape and what it means for your organisation.#BusinessEnergy #EnergyCosts #EnergyTransition #BatteryStorage #CorporatePPA #NetZero #EnergyManagementWant to get in touch? Send us a mesage!Talking Power is EDF Business and Wholesale's podcast bringing together voices from across the energy industry to talk about the future of UK power. Want to get involved in the conversation? Reach out on LinkedIn: business-wholesale-services 

Why are energy bills so high, and will they ever come down?In this episode of Talking Power, David Edmonds is joined by EDF's Director of Retail, Joe Souto, to explore the past, present and future of the UK energy market. Drawing on nearly three decades of experience, Joe breaks down what's driving energy costs, how the market has changed, and why technologies like smart meters, flexible tariffs and AI could reshape the way we use and pay for energy.From price caps and regulation to customer trust and the path to net zero, this is an essential listen for anyone wanting to understand the future of energy in the UK.#EnergyBills #UKEnergy #EnergyTransition #NetZero #SmartMeters #Flexibility #EnergyMarket #Podcast #TalkingPower #EDFWant to get in touch? Send us a mesage!Talking Power is EDF Business and Wholesale's podcast bringing together voices from across the energy industry to talk about the future of UK power. Want to get involved in the conversation? Reach out on LinkedIn: business-wholesale-services 

Only 20% of the UK's energy demand is currently met by electricity. The other 80% is imported fossil fuel — gas, oil, petrol — priced by markets we don't control. That's the security problem this episode is really about.In this special episode of Talking Power, EDF Business and Wholesale brings together voices from across the energy industry to talk about why electrification — not just cleaning up power, but actually using more of it — might be the UK's clearest route to cheaper, more secure, home-grown energy.Host Alex Grey (Deputy Director, External Affairs at ‪Energy UK) is joined by:Josh Buckland — Director for Strategy and Policy, EDFMadeleine Gabriel — Mission Director, NestaStephanie Moran — Energy & Sustainability Procurement, ‪@coverisgroup‬    They cover why gas prices jumped 20-30% in the recent energy crisis while electricity barely moved, why EV chargers now outnumber petrol stations in the UK, what's actually blocking heat pump adoption (hint: it's not just cost), whether government or the market should be picking the winning technologies, why UK electricity demand has fallen 20% over the last two decades despite every prediction saying it would spike, and whether data centres and AI could be the demand surge that finally brings everyone's bills down.#Electrification #EnergySecurity #UKEnergy #NetZero #HeatPumps #EVCharging #EnergyTransition #TalkingPower #edfWant to get in touch? Send us a mesage!Talking Power is EDF Business and Wholesale's podcast bringing together voices from across the energy industry to talk about the future of UK power. Want to get involved in the conversation? Reach out on LinkedIn: business-wholesale-services 

Many organisations have ambitious net zero targets. The challenge is delivering them.In this episode of Talking Power, host Tim McManan-Smith is joined by Lewis Welch, Head of Energy Transition at Dalkia, part of EDF, to discuss the practical realities of decarbonising buildings and estates. From ageing infrastructure and limited budgets to behavioural change, data quality and operational complexity, Lewis explains why successful decarbonisation starts with understanding how buildings are actually used and managed.The conversation explores common sources of energy waste, why organisations often overlook optimisation in favour of new technology, and how smarter building management can unlock immediate savings while creating a stronger foundation for long-term decarbonisation. Lewis also discusses the growing role of flexibility services, the importance of good-quality data, and why organisations should focus on getting the basics right before turning to AI and other emerging technologies. Want to get in touch? Send us a mesage!Talking Power is EDF Business and Wholesale's podcast bringing together voices from across the energy industry to talk about the future of UK power. Want to get involved in the conversation? Reach out on LinkedIn: business-wholesale-services 

Britain’s driveways are quietly becoming one of the most powerful assets in the energy system. With more than a gigawatt of aggregated EV flexibility now online, EVs are no longer just a passive load - they’re a mainstream grid resource. In this episode of Talking Power, Tim McMann Smith is joined by Martin Walsh, Chief Product & Technology Officer, Pod and John Grant Arrowsmith, Senior Manager, Flex Partnerships, EDF Business & Wholesale. Together, they unpack how EV flexibility is scaling, what consumers really want, and why V2G is finally moving from theory to reality.Links: https://www.edfenergy.com/content/business-wholesalehttps://www.linkedin.com/showcase/business-wholesale-services Want to get in touch? Send us a mesage!Talking Power is EDF Business and Wholesale's podcast bringing together voices from across the energy industry to talk about the future of UK power. Want to get involved in the conversation? Reach out on LinkedIn: business-wholesale-services 

The industrial and commercial energy market is undergoing a fundamental shift. Volatility is now structural, decarbonisation decisions are moving into the boardroom, and customers are weighing up on‑site assets, new technologies and increasingly complex commercial models. In this episode of Talking Power, Tim McMann Smith speaks with Jon Slowe (LCP Delta) and Christopher Dalley (EDF Business & Wholesale) about how I&C customers are adapting - and what suppliers, or energy partners, must do to keep pace.Links: https://www.edfenergy.com/content/business-wholesalehttps://www.linkedin.com/showcase/business-wholesale-services Want to get in touch? Send us a mesage!Talking Power is EDF Business and Wholesale's podcast bringing together voices from across the energy industry to talk about the future of UK power. Want to get involved in the conversation? Reach out on LinkedIn: business-wholesale-services 

In this episode of Talking Power, brought to you in partnership with EDF and The Energyst, we dive into one of the most talked about themes in the UK energy landscape - flexibility. More than just a way to save on costs, flexibility helps businesses strengthen resilience, open up new revenue opportunities, and accelerate progress toward net zero. Tune in to understand the real world challenges and opportunities of flexibility, from financial and technical barriers to cultural change, and how organisations can take their first steps into this transformative space. Want to get in touch? Send us a mesage!Talking Power is EDF Business and Wholesale's podcast bringing together voices from across the energy industry to talk about the future of UK power. Want to get involved in the conversation? Reach out on LinkedIn: business-wholesale-services 

In this episode of the Talking Power Podcast, host Tim McManan-Smith sits down with Tom Abbott, PPA Director at EDF, and Andrew Peyman, Head of Energy Sales at Innova, to unpack the rapidly shifting landscape of renewable energy contracts. Together, they explore the recent reforms to the Contracts for Difference (CfD) scheme and the implications of the AR7 delay, how CfD PPAs compare with Corporate PPAs (CPPAs) and the growing influence of market volatility and power price cannibalisation on PPA strategies. Whether you're a developer, energy buyer, or just navigating the complex world of renewables, this episode offers essential insights into securing and structuring PPAs in today’s evolving energy market. Want to get in touch? Send us a mesage!Talking Power is EDF Business and Wholesale's podcast bringing together voices from across the energy industry to talk about the future of UK power. Want to get involved in the conversation? Reach out on LinkedIn: business-wholesale-services 

In this episode, Edd Mitchell, Senior Manager of Key Accounts at EDF Business Solutions, and Tom Thackray, Head of Strategy & Sustainability at EDF discuss the balance between sustainability and risk, policy and regulatory changes in support of net zero commitments, going back to basics with energy efficiency and how to implement a comprehensive sustainability strategy.To find out more, follow EDF Business Solutions on LinkedIn or visit https://www.edfenergy.com/large-business/talk-power And for the latest news, views & to register for free digital editions of The Energyst magazine please visit theenergyst.com Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information. Want to get in touch? Send us a mesage!Talking Power is EDF Business and Wholesale's podcast bringing together voices from across the energy industry to talk about the future of UK power. Want to get involved in the conversation? Reach out on LinkedIn: business-wholesale-services