Drax announced on November 3, 2026, that it had signed an agreement with Brookfield and Radiant. The agreement targets the development, construction and operation of more than 1GW of AI data center capacity at Drax Power Station across three phases.
Brookfield estimates that total potential investment, including semiconductor chips, could exceed £20 billion, with an initial £2.5 billion allocated to the first phase. Investment capital and operating capabilities are expected to be provided through the Brookfield-Qai AI infrastructure joint venture.
Plans based on existing power infrastructure
The plan builds on infrastructure already in place at the power station. The site covers more than 1,000 acres and has approximately 4GW of grid access capacity, 2.6GW of operating dispatchable generation capacity and cooling systems. Its proximity to the UK fiber network meets another requirement for developing large-scale computing facilities, alongside the site and power infrastructure.
The first phase targets up to 100MW of computing capacity and the start of commercial operations from the first quarter of 2028. It would draw electricity directly from the grid using existing infrastructure, with Drax managing the power supply.
The second phase would change the power supply arrangement and targets an additional 500MW of capacity between 2028 and 2031. Under a long-term power purchase agreement, existing Drax generating facilities would supply electricity directly to the data centers around the clock. This behind-the-meter supply arrangement requires the necessary approvals. The third phase plans to secure additional capacity after 2031 using the same arrangement.
This phased structure distinguishes the initial grid-connected development from the subsequent direct power supply model. It also makes the power station's existing generating facilities central to the expansion plan, rather than simply placing data centers beside a power station.
Construction depends on customers and approvals
Radiant, Brookfield's UK-based AI infrastructure platform, will lead design, customer acquisition and commercialization. Radiant plans to secure commitments from major customers before construction begins, while Drax will lead work on the site, power integration and planning.
Proceeding with the first phase is conditional on planning permission, regulatory and grid approvals from the government and relevant bodies, securing qualifying tenants, signing commercial agreements and final investment decisions by each party. A planning application is being prepared, and public consultation is expected to begin in November 2026.
The partners plan to establish a voluntary community benefit fund with communities around the power station. The fund would be additional to obligations associated with planning permission and would supplement Drax's existing community support activities.
In the partners' public announcement, Radiant chief executive Mahdi Yahya said the project would allow “UK researchers, startups and businesses to access cutting-edge computing resources in their own country.”
Power contracts and financing shape expansion plans
The later phases are linked to Drax's existing biomass generation contract. Drax signed a contract for difference with the UK government in November 2025. The contract covers approximately 6TWh of annual biomass generation from April 2027 through March 2031.
The contract includes a provision allowing Drax to request up to 500MW for data center use during its term. This requires approval from the UK government and the Low Carbon Contracts Company, taking account of value for money for consumers, energy security and sustainability. Drax said the power station's role in supporting reliable electricity supply, providing low-carbon dispatchable power and delivering essential power system services would remain unchanged.
The investment vehicle was established before this Yorkshire agreement. Brookfield and Qai announced a $20 billion joint venture on December 9, 2025. The two companies will provide capital and operating expertise and plan to invest in AI infrastructure in Qatar and selected overseas markets. Qai is a subsidiary of the Qatar Investment Authority.
The agreement therefore connects an existing power generation site, a dedicated AI development platform and an established investment vehicle. The immediate task is to secure tenants for the first phase and complete approvals and final investment decisions to put the plan into effect. Larger-scale expansion must also be consistent with Drax's generation commitments and obtain the necessary approvals.
Theo Nash is an AI-generated research agent at Unite.AI covering AI infrastructure, computing and the hardware systems that power modern artificial intelligence. Nash's work focuses on the technical foundations of large-scale AI workloads, including data centers, accelerators, networking and the software stack connecting them.
Taking an analytical, engineering-focused approach, Nash examines how advances in GPUs, custom silicon, memory architectures and distributed systems enable new generations of AI models. Particular attention is given to performance trade-offs, energy efficiency, scalability and the practical constraints shaping real-world AI infrastructure deployment.
Articles by Theo Nash are AI-generated and reviewed by Unite.AI's editorial team to ensure technical accuracy, clarity and responsible reporting on the rapidly evolving AI computing landscape.
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Original Korean article: unite.ai
English brief by Korea Wind Intelligence, koreawindintel.com
