Drax Signs AI Data Center Partnership for North Yorkshire Power Site

Drax announced on November 3, 2026 that it had signed an agreement with Brookfield and Radiant to develop, deliver and operate AI data center capacity at Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire, targeting more than 1GW across three phases. Brookfield estimates that total potential investment, including semiconductor chips, could exceed £20 billion, with an initial £2.5 billion forming part of Phase 1.

Investment capital and operating capabilities are to be provided through the Brookfield-Qai AI infrastructure joint venture. The proposal is built around infrastructure already at the power station. The estate covers more than 1,000 acres and has approximately 4GW of grid access, 2.6GW of active dispatchable generation and cooling systems. Its proximity to the UK fibre network adds another requirement for large-scale compute development alongside the land and electrical infrastructure.

The first phase targets up to 100MW of compute capacity and commercial operations from Q1 2028. It would use existing infrastructure to import power directly from the grid, with Drax managing that supply. The power model changes in Phase 2, an ambition to add 500MW of capacity between 2028…