PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
(28 August 2026)

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what criteria she will use when considering requests by Drax Power Station to supply electricity directly to data centres under future support arrangements.

Asked by:
Mr Richard Holden (Conservative)

The low-carbon dispatchable Contract for Difference (LCD CfD) signed with Drax Power Station for the period 2027-31 contains a provision for the generator to request the ability to provide up to 500MW of power to a data centre via a private wire.

The Government, in conjunction with the Low Carbon Contracts Company as the CfD counterparty, will assess any such request against criteria that take account of energy security, affordability and sustainability, to ensure that any decision is in the interests of the consumer.

All power generated by Drax during this period – whether for the grid or a data centre – must use fuel which complies with the strengthened sustainability criteria set out in the LCD CfD.

Answered by:
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