A planned data center in Cardiff could be powered by a large natural gas plant.

According to reports from the BBC, Curtis Hall, a UK-based property developer, has sought permission to build a gas power plant adjacent to the proposed data center to speed up its time to power.

Reports suggest the plant could operate for up to five years if the project cannot secure an expedited grid connection. The company did state that the plan was a “worst-case scenario,” however, given the long lead time for grid connections in the UK, it seems likely that the company will be unable to secure a grid connection in the near term. Power constraints in the UK have already seen Microsoft and OpenAI withdraw from proposed projects.

According to reports, the planning documents outline a “temporary ancillary energy center” consisting of gas turbines with a capacity of up to 49.9MW. The documents state that the energy center could commence operations in July 2028 and last until the site has full electricity connection, which is expected in July 2033.

If built, the center would include five gas turbines, a steam generator, and two backup gas turbines. Ultimately, the data center is expected to require 150MW of power from the grid.

Curtis Hall has faced criticism, with critics asserting that the energy center’s 49.9MW capacity is an attempt to circumvent planning permission, as energy generation facilities with a capacity of 50MW or more require Welsh government approval. In addition, the facility is expected to deploy 40 backup diesel gen sets.

While Curtis Hall did not deny the plans, it claimed that gas generation was “not the data center’s permanent power supply, and once the grid connection is live it would no longer be needed.”

“If the connection arrives in time, the energy center will not be needed at all,” it said.

“Gas turbines appear in the planning documents because they represent the worst case for emissions and noise, so assessing them tests the upper limit of any impact.”

The company also said it had not confirmed the nature of the generation technology, and was open to other forms of generation, such as fuel cells.

According to Cardiff Council, a range of council members have raised formal objections, with calls for the Welsh government to scrutinize the plans.

News on the development first broke in February. The facility is slated for development at a park-and-ride facility in Llanrumney, Cardiff, with layouts submitted at the time setting out a campus consisting of three data centers, an on-site substation, ancillary energy facilities, and an admin and storage building, on an approximately 40-acre land parcel.

At the time, concerns were raised about the impact on local hospital services, with the park-and-ride facility serving as a key parking area for Wales’ largest hospital, the University Hospital of Wales.