TLDRs;
- Google to invest $6.8B in the UK, including a new Waltham Cross data center powering AI and cloud services.
- The investment is expected to generate 8,250 jobs annually, boosting the UK economy and technology workforce.
- Google partners with Shell to stabilize the UK power grid and move toward 95% carbon-free energy by 2026.
- Google Cloud projects $58B revenue growth over two years, fueled by AI demand and long-term contracts with major labs.
Google has unveiled a major investment in the United Kingdom, pledging £5 billion (US$6.8 billion) to expand its AI and cloud operations.
A centerpiece of the plan is a new data center in Waltham Cross, near London, designed to handle growing demand for services such as Google Cloud, Search, Maps, and Workspace.
The project is expected to be a massive economic boost, with Google estimating that 8,250 jobs could be created annually for UK businesses once the facility is fully operational. This marks one of the tech giant’s largest single commitments to the UK market to date.
Partnership With Shell to Boost Energy Transition
A key part of the investment includes a partnership with energy major Shell. Together, the companies plan to improve grid reliability and support Britain’s ongoing energy transition. The initiative will help align Google’s infrastructure with the UK’s sustainability goals, ensuring that expanding AI workloads do not come at the expense of environmental progress.
The Waltham Cross data center is designed with sustainability in mind. Instead of relying on water cooling, it will deploy air-cooling technology to cut water usage. In addition, the site will be capable of rerouting excess heat to nearby homes and businesses, reducing waste and benefiting the surrounding community.
Toward 95% Carbon-Free Energy by 2026
Google also set an ambitious sustainability target alongside the investment. By 2026, the company aims to run its UK operations at or near 95% carbon-free energy, combining renewable energy procurement with advanced grid management enabled by the Shell collaboration.
This initiative reflects Google’s broader push to balance its growing AI-driven infrastructure needs with a commitment to carbon neutrality. AI workloads are notoriously energy-intensive, but Google’s clean energy pledge signals a future where digital expansion and sustainability can go hand-in-hand.
AI Growth Fuels Google Cloud Momentum
The announcement comes just as Google Cloud projects $58 billion in new revenue over the next two years from existing contracts. The division currently operates at a $50 billion annual run rate and has a backlog of $106 billion in signed but not-yet-recognized contracts.
AI is central to this momentum. According to Google Cloud CEO Thomas Kurian, nine of the world’s ten largest AI labs, including OpenAI and Anthropic, are already customers. AI-related demand is fueling long-term, predictable revenue, signaling a shift away from purely short-term cloud competition.
With competitors such as Amazon Web Services and Microsoft Azure holding significant market share, Google Cloud’s fast growth underscores how AI infrastructure demand is rewriting the rules of the cloud industry. For the UK, hosting one of Google’s newest and most advanced AI-ready facilities positions the country as a critical hub in this evolving global landscape.
Broader Business Context
Google’s announcement also coincides with US President Donald Trump’s planned visit to the UK, where multiple major business deals are expected. The timing highlights the political and economic weight of Google’s commitment, especially as countries compete to secure investments from global tech leaders.
For the UK, the Waltham Cross facility represents more than just a data center, it’s a strategic move that could anchor the country’s role in the next wave of AI innovation.
