Drax Power Plant to Host UK’s Largest AI Datacentre
Drax, the UK’s most polluting power plant, has struck a £20bn deal to build an AI datacentre on its site.
In Brief
- •Drax, the UK’s most polluting power plant, has struck a £20bn deal to build an AI datacentre on its site.
- •The datacentre will eventually exceed 1 GW of capacity, with an initial 100 MW phase slated to start in Q1 2028.
- •Drax will provide land and grid access, aiming to power the centre directly by the early 2030s.
- •The project could attract over £20bn in investment and secure hundreds of jobs amid government plans to limit Drax’s power generation.
- •Drax’s emissions, accounting for roughly 5 % of UK electricity, are not counted by the government due to carbon‑sequestration claims from its woody‑biomass fuel.
Why It Matters
The partnership signals a shift in how legacy fossil‑fuel sites can be repurposed for high‑tech infrastructure, potentially boosting the UK’s sovereign AI capabilities while preserving local employment. However, it also raises questions about the environmental legitimacy of Drax’s carbon‑offset claims and the feasibility of powering a massive datacentre on a grid already strained by climate targets.
Key Details
- Deal Value
- £20bn
- Projected Capacity
- >1 GW
- Initial Phase Capacity
- 100 MW
- Expected Operational Date
- Q1 2028
- Future Direct Powering
- early 2030s
- Subsidy Reduction
- half of £2m/day from 2027 to 2031
Context & Background
Drax is the UK’s largest power plant, generating almost 5 % of the country’s electricity from woody‑biomass pellets and is the single largest CO₂ emitter. The government has signalled a future limit on its generation and reduced its subsidies.
Original Reporting & Sources
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