UK's most polluting power plant to host largest AI datacentre
Drax power station in North Yorkshire will be transformed into a major AI infrastructure hub under a £20bn deal.
At a glance
- £20bn deal agreed to build AI datacentre at Drax power plant site
- Facility capacity expected to exceed 1 gigawatt
- Operations could begin by early 2028
- Partners include Brookfield and Radiant infrastructure platform
The owner of Drax, Britain's most polluting power plant, has agreed a £20bn deal with infrastructure investor Brookfield and AI platform Radiant to build a datacentre on the North Yorkshire site. The facility is expected to have a capacity exceeding 1 gigawatt and could begin operations by early 2028.
The project represents what the power plant's FTSE 250 owner describes as the site's "next chapter" of development.
Why it matters
The project signals a major shift in use for Britain's most polluting power station, reflecting growing demand for AI infrastructure investment in the UK.
Original reporting
- The Guardian — BusinessUK’s most polluting power plant could power country’s largest AI datacentre
- The Guardian — WorldUK’s most polluting power plant could power country’s largest AI datacentre
This brief was written with AI assistance from the reports listed above and checked against our editorial policy. Spotted an error? Request a correction.
