A former Scottish steelworks could house one of the UK鈥檚 largest data centre and battery storage facilities in a move that its backers claim will generate billions of pounds of inward investment. Part of the Ravenscraig site would become a 鈥済reen AI data centre鈥 under the proposals put forward by renewable energy developer Apatura, which is based in Edinburgh and York. The data centre with battery energy storage would be located on a 160-acre site at the iconic post-industrial location in North Lanarkshire, and would be powered by 550 megawatts of grid connections due to come online by 2030. The Ravenscraig steelworks – once the largest hot strip steel mill in western Europe – was closed in the early 1990s. It is now one of Europe鈥檚 largest brownfield regeneration and community creation initiatives. Ravenscraig is one of five 鈥淎I-ready鈥 sites Apatura is progressing across Scotland鈥檚 Central Belt, backed by some 1.6 gigawatts of confirmed grid connections. The firm said it was working closely with North Lanarkshire Council and site owner Ravenscraig Ltd to advance its proposal. Company bosses said the development could be 鈥渢ransformational鈥 for the area and the Scottish economy more broadly. It is estimated the project will cost 拢3.9 billion to build. According to an independent socio-economic study, the construction activity would deliver a one-off 拢1.2bn GVA (gross value added) boost, supporting in excess of 16,000 鈥渏ob years鈥 across Scotland. The ongoing annual GVA contribution is estimated at 拢729 million, supporting more than 2,000 long-term jobs (direct, indirect and induced). Additionally, developing high-demand data centres in the Central Belt could play a vital role in reducing grid constraint payments, which cost nearly 拢1bn last year and are forecast to rise to 拢3bn by 2030. Apatura chief executive Giles Hanglin said: 鈥淭his proposal plays strongly to Scotland鈥檚 strengths – in green energy, in AI, in education and in skills – and would complement the country鈥檚 significant capabilities in big data and research. 鈥淲e鈥檝e secured the land and grid, and we鈥檙e already working closely with relevant organisations locally and nationally to make sure the benefits are widely felt. 鈥淚f we were selected as an AI Growth Zone it would be a significant endorsement of our ambition to make Scotland a powerhouse of green, AI-enabled digital infrastructure – starting with Ravenscraig and extending across the Central Belt.鈥 Russell Wilkie, director of Ravenscraig, said: 鈥淭his is an exciting opportunity for Ravenscraig to be at the forefront of green data centres which will transform Scotland鈥檚 renewable power capabilities. With grid connections in place, land secured, and a delivery team aligned, we have a fully viable site within the Ravenscraig masterplan to meet the UK鈥檚 AI infrastructure needs. 鈥淭his multi-billion pound investment project is a platform for national progress, combining energy, digital infrastructure and regional innovation to create tangible economic and social benefits for Scotland and for the wider UK economy.鈥 This latest proposal forms part of Ravenscraig鈥檚 regeneration, with development earmarked for the site to the east of the Wishaw Deviation freight railway line, and the remaining vacant employment land, known as SevenFourEight. Why these behemoth renewable energy batteries in Scotland are just next stage in eyesore power infrastructure