Scotland's cool climate could hold the key to cutting the internet's carbon footprint according to the company behind plans for the world's largest data centre near Lockerbie.

David King, Project Director of Lockerbie Data Centre's Limited, is calling on the Scottish Government to market Scotland as the safest and greenest location for the vast data centres that power the internet. The company is currently consulting the local community over its proposals to build the world's largest data centre at Peelhouses by Lockerbie.

He was speaking out following the publication of research by Harvard physicist Dr Alex Wissner-Gross that alleges the typical Google search on a desktop computer produces about 7g CO2. This claim has been hotly disputed by Google who say that the true figure is closer to 0.2g CO2 per search.

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Speaking yesterday David King, said: "Google and other internet companies are making great efforts to cut their C02 emissions. Whilst the findings of this report may be contentious, it does act to highlight the growing demand for data storage and therefore energy required by the internet.

"Up to half of this energy goes into cooling the banks of computer servers that at present are mainly located in and around the hot climate of the Silicon Valley where the internet industry is based."

Highlighting the opportunities for Scotland David King added: "Scotland not only has the educated workforce, the quality infrastructure and the geological and political stability required but by virtue of our cooler climate we have a distinct advantage over other parts of the UK and Europe desperate to attract the billions of pounds in inward investment that will follow."

(GK/JM)