Microsoft scraps UK data center deal with Nscale, putting IPO plans at risk

Grid delays pushed power for the Loughton site into the 2030s, and the AI cloud startup's biggest-name tenant walked away Microsoft has terminated its agreement to anchor Nscale’s planned £2 billion data center in Loughton, Essex. The startup is preparing a New York Stock Exchange listing, so the timing is unfortunate. The culprit is not chips, demand, or a boardroom spat. It is the electrical grid. Power for the site is not expected until the early to mid-2030s, which is a long time to keep 23,000 Nvidia AI chips waiting. Under the original plan, Microsoft would lease 23,000 Nvidia AI chips at the Loughton facility. The site was designed to deliver about 90 MW of power and was slated to open in 2027. That schedule has now collapsed.

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