The proposed Drax data center in North Yorkshire, designed to run on biomass, faces criticism over its potential environmental impact. According to an NRDC analysis, the facility could emit 8.6 million tons of CO2 annually, potentially surpassing the total emissions from all flights at Gatwick Airport in 2024.
The project requires 4.9 million tons of wood per year for continuous operation. Drax plans to repurpose part of its biomass power plant to support AI infrastructure, targeting a capacity of 1.2 GW. Of this, 100 MW would be drawn from the national grid, while the remainder would come from the company's own generation.
Drax aims to launch the data center by 2031, pending regulatory approval. The company disputes the NRDC findings, citing errors in the calculation of energy balance and the interpretation of international greenhouse gas accounting standards for biomass.
The UK faces broader challenges regarding data center energy consumption. Currently, 315 projects with a total demand of 73 GW are awaiting grid connection, exceeding the nation's winter peak demand. On September 17, the UK government rejected a petition calling for a moratorium on new data center approvals.
