The States of Alderney is inviting expressions of interest for a potential data centre to be built in the island.
It comes after a study found the project could be “economically transformational.”
Alderney’s Policy and Finance Committee said the facility could generate lease and royalty income that significantly exceeds the island’s current annual revenue from property taxes and document duty.
Driven by global growth in AI and cloud computing, the project is also being explored for its potential to lower local household energy costs and create new jobs.
However, Data Centers are notoriously resource consumption heavy, with water and infrastructure impacts common in places where they’re housed.
P&F Committee has been clear that any future proposal “must be in the best interests of Alderney and must not adversely impact the island’s environment, heritage, or community”.
In its announcement P&F said “there is no commitment to proceed with any development unless it is demonstrated to be appropriate and beneficial for the island”.
That balancing act between benefit and risk is fundamental to the question of whether the island’s government should consider construction of a data centre, said Jeannie Cameron, the Chair of Alderney’s Policy & Finance Committee.
“The feasibility study opens by saying: ‘A data centre is feasible and economically transformational for Alderney’.
“We therefore have a fiduciary duty to consider it and to move to the next step to see what interest there is from the private sector, and to consult with the public when any proposals are received.”
Any prospective developer will have to identify suitable sites and provide their own energy and cooling solutions, and all proposals must include a full Environmental Impact Assessment and an Environmental Statement.
The process will have multiple rounds of public consultation, followed by a formal public planning meeting for any application.
P&F maintains that any final decision will depend on demonstrating that the project is beneficial to the community and does not adversely impact Alderney’s environment or heritage.