Drax says AI data center growth hinges on power system flexibility

By Public Technologies
  • Power-system flexibility, rather than additional generation alone, will be critical to supporting AI-driven data center growth.
  • Data centers consume 6% of electricity in the UK and US; demand can fluctuate by hundreds of megawatts every few minutes.
  • Storage, dispatchable generation and demand management can improve energy resilience, helping operators control costs and scale.
  • UK battery storage capacity rose from just under 10 MW to almost 7 GW in less than a decade, surpassing nuclear generation.
  • Insufficient flexibility risks higher costs, renewable curtailment and reduced energy security; reliance on a single energy source increases exposure to disruption.


Disclaimer: This news brief was created by Public Technologies (PUBT) using generative artificial intelligence. While PUBT strives to provide accurate and timely information, this AI-generated content is for informational purposes only and should not be interpreted as financial, investment, or legal advice. Drax Group plc published the original content used to generate this news brief on October 15, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained therein.

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