| Topic: Auchtertool Data Centre |
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1. Author: OzPar
Date: Wed 2nd Sep 2026. 11:01
I am a bit surprised that there has been no mention here of the proposed AI Data Centre next to Auchtertool village. By any stretch of the imagination, the scale seems way out of proportion from an environmental sustainability perspective.
I am curious to know what Fife Council and the local community are doing to counter what, on the face of it, seems quite a problematic project. For instance, is it true that, when fully operational, the data centre could consume 20% of Scotland`s electricity?
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2. Author: jake89
Date: Wed 2nd Sep 2026. 11:34
There`s a lot of discussion on Facebook. The community are primarily against it and there have been community meetings. My understanding is they need to do an EIA and they`ve stated it`ll be powered by hydro from up north.
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3. Author: parsmad68
Date: Wed 2nd Sep 2026. 13:32
With transmission line losses would it not make sense to have the data centre near where it is consuming power or is that too simple.
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4. Author: sadindiefreak
Date: Wed 2nd Sep 2026. 15:10
parsmad68, Wed 2 Sept 13:32
With transmission line losses would it not make sense to have the data centre near where it is consuming power or is that too simple.
Local distribution networks typically have losses of 5 to 8%.
Power sent over the high power transmission network of the National Grid has a loss of about 1.7%
I would imagine location of high enery using data centres would be strategically chosen to reduce local disruption losses and as close to transmission network as possible.
They could build it close to where the power in generated and still have high local distribution losses.
But getting a good location near the transmission network with low local losses could be a better prospect.
Obviously other factors like a workforce come into the choice of location as well. So all things will be weighed up in deciding location not just power losses.
This is just my thoughts on it.
I have no idea how close the proposed data centre in Auchtertool is to the transmission network.
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5. Author: ipswichpar
Date: Wed 2nd Sep 2026. 16:13
.
Post Edited (Wed 02 Sep 16:15)
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6. Author: LochgellyAlbert
Date: Wed 2nd Sep 2026. 19:35
Suggestion is that it should be built on Mossmoran on the site that is being vacated by Exxon.
Not many jobs created when up and running and an impact assessment has only happened due to pressure from locals.
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7. Author: jake89
Date: Wed 2nd Sep 2026. 20:36
LochgellyAlbert, Wed 2 Sept 19:35
Suggestion is that it should be built on Mossmoran on the site that is being vacated by Exxon.
Not many jobs created when up and running and an impact assessment has only happened due to pressure from locals.
There`s a suspicion that this is how they get it through. Propose putting it somewhere people will definitely object to so that people are less likely to object when they appear to compromise and build it elsewhere. It`s basically what`s happened in Rosyth where 300 homes magically became 150 homes and it got approved.
Is the pipeline still in use at Mossmorran? I can`t imagine building a data centre on top of that is a good idea.
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8. Author: Dandy Warhol
Date: Wed 2nd Sep 2026. 21:33
Emptying us of our last remaining resource, water.
I don`t wanna go down like disco.
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9. Author: ipswichpar
Date: Wed 2nd Sep 2026. 21:55
Wasn`t that long ago we were watching Twrminator and Quantum of Solace and thinking they were all fantastical stories.
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10. Author: LochgellyAlbert
Date: Wed 2nd Sep 2026. 22:32
jake89, Wed 2 Sept 20:36
LochgellyAlbert, Wed 2 Sept 19:35
Suggestion is that it should be built on Mossmoran on the site that is being vacated by Exxon.
Not many jobs created when up and running and an impact assessment has only happened due to pressure from locals.
There`s a suspicion that this is how they get it through. Propose putting it somewhere people will definitely object to so that people are less likely to object when they appear to compromise and build it elsewhere. It`s basically what`s happened in Rosyth where 300 homes magically became 150 homes and it got approved.
Is the pipeline still in use at Mossmorran? I can`t imagine building a data centre on top of that is a good idea.
Shell still at the Moss, would imagine pipeline still in use, they stopped T in the Park because of it!
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11. Author: ipswichpar
Date: Wed 2nd Sep 2026. 22:52
Apparently they did assess Moss as that was the preferred location initially. However, despite the size of the site there was good reasons for not picking it, with the decommissioning of the previous stuff being one of them.
It was covered on Scotcast recently. I`ll let you make your own mind up if the guy sounds trustworthy....
Hopefully the location picked isn`t on top of some old mines!
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12. Author: parsmad68
Date: Thu 3rd Sep 2026. 11:11
ipswichpar, Wed 2 Sep 22:52
Apparently they did assess Moss as that was the preferred location initially. However, despite the size of the site there was good reasons for not picking it, with the decommissioning of the previous stuff being one of them.
It was covered on Scotcast recently. I`ll let you make your own mind up if the guy sounds trustworthy....
Hopefully the location picked isn`t on top of some old mines!
They certainly would be data mining then……
Ok , I’ll get my coat…..
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