Countries / Crown Dependencies
Alderney
Alderney has asked developers whether they are interested in a data centre; the States say no project, developer or site exists.
CONFIRMED by the States of Alderney: an independent feasibility study (cost GBP 21,000) said a data centre is feasible and could be economically transformational; the Policy and Finance Committee then approved seeking expressions of interest, published through the Guernsey Procurement Portal in early July 2026, with no commitment to build. In early September 2026 the committee stated that no data centre has been approved, no developer appointed, no site selected and no development agreement signed. REPORTED, not confirmed: the committee chair told a podcast that a UK-based company had suggested paying for a power cable from France, and that earlier data centre concepts put to the committee were dismissed because the site proposed was wrong. A States member claimed that a proposal for hyperscale data centres of up to 250MW had been received; the committee did not confirm any size, and other reports mention 50MW to 200MW figures. NOT FOUND: any size, power source, site, developer name or planning application. The matter has been politically contested and the States have said any proposal would face public consultation and an environmental impact assessment.
AI policy and activity
No AI or compute policy specific to Alderney was found. Data protection law for the Bailiwick, including Alderney, is covered under Guernsey. There is no existing data centre on the island in the sources we read.
Power and grid
Alderney Electricity Limited runs the island grid and generates from imported diesel (reported as eight generators), with a stated target of 30% renewable generation by 2027. Its 2025 turnover was about GBP 5.99 million (Guernsey Press, 9 September 2026). A 2024 Bailiwick Express piece put a cable to other Channel Islands at about GBP 200 million, too costly for the island's tiny demand; the island has no connection to a large grid today. Any data centre of the sizes mentioned would dwarf local demand, so it would depend on new supply. The tidal option is real in principle: Alderney controls its seabed through a licensing body, but a 2016 report records the first 4MW tidal project abandoned as unviable, and current licences were not re-checked. Alderney has its own States and legislation within the Bailiwick, with some services (such as policing and health) transferred to Guernsey.
Connectivity
Not researched for Alderney. Do not assume the Guernsey subsea routes land there.
Data centres and compute
| Site | Where | Status | Notes and source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Possible Alderney data centre (no project exists) None appointed | Alderney, no site selected | Exploratory | Expressions of interest sought from July 2026. The States report no developer, site, size or power arrangement. A columnist and the States both say any developer would have to explain where its power would come from. (source) |
| Claimed hyperscale proposal of up to 250MW (unverified) Not named | Not confirmed; Mannez Quarry was raised by a States member and denied by the committee | Unconfirmed claim | Bailiwick Express (1 September 2026) reports a States member claiming that the Economic Development Committee had received a proposal for hyperscale data centres of up to 250MW, that a confidential memorandum of understanding had been signed and that politicians had visited sites. The committee's statement denies any approval, appointment, site selection or agreement. A 2 September report mentions figures of 50MW and 200MW without the committee confirming them. We treat all of these sizes as unverified. (source) |
| Suggested France to Alderney power cable (company unnamed) A UK-based company, not named | France to Alderney | Reported | Guernsey Press, 26 September 2026, reporting the committee chair on its podcast: a company suggested paying for a cable bringing cheaper French electricity, which she described as essential to any data centre. She said there was no worked-up project on the table and distinguished it from the earlier FAB Link scheme, whose current route avoids Alderney. Report of the chair's own account; no cable application or capacity was found. (source) |
Rules and programmes
| Instrument | Kind | Status | What it does |
|---|---|---|---|
| Policy and Finance Committee: data centre feasibility study review | Policy | Exploratory | States of Alderney press release dated 27 April 2026. Says the step 'does not commit' the States to any development, that any proposal would need a planning application with an environmental impact assessment and several public consultation rounds, and that no sites are proposed. Study was by an independent company chosen through Guernsey procurement. |
| Expression of interest for an Alderney data centre | Programme | Exploratory | Reported 3 July 2026 (BBC coverage on 6 July). Issued by the Policy and Finance Committee via the Guernsey Procurement Portal; 'no decisions have been made regarding any specific development proposals or sites'. We have not read the tender itself, so its size, power and site requirements are unverified. Press coverage says developers would be expected to find their own sites and provide their own energy and cooling. |
| Policy and Finance Committee statement: 'no data centre has been approved' | Policy | Stated | Reported 2 September 2026. States that no data centre, developer, site or development agreement exists, that Mannez Quarry has not been selected and that no hyperscale data centre is being secretly progressed. Responds to claims made by a States member. |
| Building and Development Control (Alderney) Law 2002 and Land Use Plan 2017 | Planning | In force | Alderney's own planning law, applied by its Building and Development Control Committee, not Guernsey's. The States say an environmental impact assessment would be needed for any data centre; the pages we read do not set out thresholds, so that requirement is as stated by the States rather than checked in the law. |
Checked on 2 October 2026 and due for review by 1 December 2026. Many sources are trade press or law-firm summaries rather than official texts, and statuses such as reported or unconfirmed are shown as the source gives them. This is a summary, not legal advice. If something is wrong or out of date, tell us.