Drax proposes AI data centre with capacity above 1GW

Drax and its partners have announced plans for a phased artificial intelligence data centre at the company’s North Yorkshire power-station site, with eventual computing capacity above 1 gigawatt. The proposal remains subject to approvals, a tenant and final investment decisions from each partner. The first phase is designed to provide up to 100 megawatts and is targeted to become operational in early 2028, using power from the national grid. Drax, Brookfield and Radiant, Brookfield’s AI infrastructure business, said the project could eventually attract more than £20 billion in investment, including the cost of chips. The reported initial investment for the first phase is £2.5 billion. A second phase aims to add 500 megawatts between 2028 and 2031. Under that proposal, Drax generators would supply power directly to the data centre under a long-term contract. A third phase would add further capacity after 2031. The partners have not announced a customer for the facility. The site has about 4 gigawatts of grid access and 2.6 gigawatts of generating capacity, according to Drax. The first phase would use the national grid; Drax says direct supply from its generators for the second...