TL;DR:
- Carbon3.AI applies to build modular AI factory at Derbyshire landfill site next to M1
- Facility will use renewable energy from Valencia Energy Centre via private wire connections
- Planning documents describe project as “strategic regional and national importance” for sovereign AI capacity
Carbon3.AI has submitted a planning application to Chesterfield Borough Council for an AI computing facility described as being of “strategic regional and national importance” for the UK’s sovereign AI infrastructure.
Strategic Location and Renewable Energy
The modular facility is proposed for land next to the M1 at Erin Road landfill between Duckmanton and Poolsbrook. According to planning documents, the site was selected specifically for its proximity to the Valencia Energy Centre, which produces renewable energy from landfill gas.
Private wire connections would provide electricity directly from the renewable energy facility to the AI factory, addressing both power requirements and sustainability considerations.
Addressing Sovereign AI Capacity
Planning documents state that the proposal would address an “urgent need” for sovereign AI capacity in the UK. The facility’s modular design would enable straightforward upgrades whilst providing flexibility to remove or relocate operations if needed.
The development aims to deliver critical sovereign AI computing infrastructure for the UK, addressing what planners describe as a “pressing national requirement for secure, sustainable, and accessible high-capacity digital computing resources.”
Regional Economic Impact
Beyond national infrastructure goals, the project is positioned to support local and regional economic growth through investment attraction and highly skilled job creation. Planning documents emphasise the development’s demonstration of integrating renewable energy into advanced technological infrastructure.
The facility represents a convergence of regional brownfield redevelopment, renewable energy utilisation, and national AI infrastructure priorities—a model that could inform similar developments across the UK.
Source: BBC