Drax Group said it has signed an agreement to develop a strategic partnership with Brookfield and Radiant, Brookfield’s UK-headquartered AI infrastructure platform, to jointly develop, deliver and operate an AI data centre on the Drax Power Station estate in North Yorkshire. Investment capital and operating capabilities will come through the Brookfield-Qai AI infrastructure joint venture announced in 2025. Brookfield estimates total potential investment, including semiconductor chips, could exceed 20 billion pounds, with an initial 2.5 billion pounds as part of the first phase.
The build is phased. Phase 1 targets up to 100 megawatts, operational from the first quarter of 2028, using power imported directly from the grid. Phase 2 is an ambition to add a further 500 megawatts between 2028 and 2031, and Phase 3 would add capacity after 2031, taking the total above 1 gigawatt. The estate covers more than 1,000 acres with 4 gigawatts of grid access and 2.6 gigawatts of active dispatchable generation. Progression of the first phase is subject to planning, regulatory and network approvals, securing an acceptable tenant, and each party taking a final investment decision. A planning application is being prepared, with public consultation expected to start in November 2026. CNBC reported Drax shares rose about 8 percent after the announcement.