Full year results for the twelve months ended 31 December 2022

Will Gardiner, Drax Group CEO

“Drax delivered a strong performance in 2022, and played a significant role in ensuring security of supply during a challenging year for the UK’s energy system.

“Our renewable generation – biomass, hydro and pumped storage – are a major source of power in the UK and during periods of peak demand when there was low wind and solar power, these assets collectively supplied up to 70% of the UK’s renewable power in certain periods.

“We believe that BECCS can become a world-leading solution for large-scale high-quality carbon removals and we are seeing increasing global policy support for its delivery.

“Drax stands ready to invest billions of pounds in the development of this technology and, following the introduction of the US Inflation Reduction Act, we are increasingly excited about the opportunities to deploy BECCS in the US. In response, the UK Government should accelerate its policy support for BECCS to make the UK a world leader in carbon removals, while attracting investment and delivering its net zero targets.

“Drax is a growing international business with strong cash returns which we are reinvesting to produce more renewable energy and deliver carbon removals while reducing our own carbon emissions. We aim to be at the heart of the energy transition, creating the jobs, renewable power and large-scale carbon removals that the world needs.”

Financial highlights – strong financial performance underpinning investment and a sustain and growing dividend

• Adjusted EBITDA of £731 million up 84% (2021: £398 million)
• Strong liquidity and balance sheet – £698 million of cash and committed facilities at 31 December 2022
  • 1.6x Net debt to Adjusted EBITDA – significantly below 2x target
• Total dividend increased 11.7% to 21.0 pence per share (2021: 18.8 pence per share)
  • Proposed final dividend of 12.6 pence per share (2021: 11.3 pence per share)

Operational highlights – optimisation of supply chain and generation to support security of supply

• UK’s largest source of renewable power by output – 11% of annualised total, 19% of peak (up to 70% in-day peak)

Strategy highlights – developing a pipeline for carbon removals, biomass and dispatchable, renewable power

• Ambition to be a global leader in carbon removals
  • Global BECCS – developing a pipeline of projects in the US targeting long-term large-scale carbon removal
    • First new-build site chosen, with over 10 sites currently under evaluation
    • MoU agreed with large timberland owner to develop a pipeline of BECCS opportunities
    • MoU agreed with Respira for sale of 2Mt of carbon removals from new-build BECCS plants
  • UK BECCS – UK Government to confirm shortlisting for “Track 1” UK BECCS projects
• Ambition to be a global leader in sustainable biomass – targeting 8Mt of capacity and 4Mt of third-party sales by 2030
  • Addition of 0.5Mt of operational pellet production capacity and final investment decision (FID) on 0.6Mt in 2023
• Ambition to be a UK leader in dispatchable, renewable power
  • Aim to reach agreement regarding long-term incentives for biomass generation not operating as BECCS
  • Planning application submitted for 600MW expansion of Cruachan and connection agreement secured

Future positive – climate, nature, people

• Exiting gas sales on Customers SME business
• Drax Power Station sustainability sourcing requirements are compliant with UK law on sustainable sourcing
• Biomass produced using material from well-established forestry markets in the US, Canada and Europe
• Subject to national and regional regulation and typically supported by, and independently monitored for compliance by, forest certification schemes such as: the Forestry Stewardship Council^® (FSC)⁽⁴⁾, Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) and Programme for the Endorsement of Forest Certification^© (PEFC)⁽⁵⁾
• Launch of Drax Foundation to deliver community initiatives that support education and skills development in Science, Technology, Engineering and Maths (STEM), and that improve green spaces and enhance biodiversity within local communities

Operational review

Pellet Production – increased production, flexible operations to support UK generation, addition of 0.5Mt of capacity

• Adjusted EBITDA up 56% to £134 million (2021: £86 million)
  • Production up 26% to 3.9Mt (2021: 3.1Mt, including Pinnacle since 13 April 2021)
  • Lower than planned production – delays achieving full production at new plants, North American rail restrictions and flexible production
• Optimisation of supply chain supports value for the Group
  • Flexible production to support generation
  • Sales to third parties under long-term contracts
  • Spot sales and purchases
• Addition of c.0.5Mt of production capacity – Demopolis, Leola and Russellville – completing commissioning and acquisition of Princeton
• 6% year-on-year production cost increase to $152/t⁽⁶⁾ (2021: $143/t⁽⁶⁾)
  • Inflation impact on utility costs (>35%) and fuel surcharges (barge and rail transport to port (>20%))
• Outlook – clear pathway to improved earnings profile
  • Incremental production at existing sites and addition of new capacity
  • Continued headwind from inflation in 2023
  • Development and introduction of new technologies and innovation, including c.£10 million R&D investment in a biomass sugar extraction plant
  • Increased use of residuals and a wider range of sustainable biomass materials

Generation – flexible operations and dispatch to capture value – increased system support and security of supply

• Adjusted EBITDA £696 million up 87% (2021: £372 million)
  • Optimisation of generation and logistics to support UK security of supply at times of higher demand
    • Summer – lower power demand, lower power generation and sale of reprofiled biomass
    • Winter – maximise biomass deliveries to support increased generation at times of higher demand
  • Higher biomass and system costs reflecting a more challenging energy environment
• Strong pumped storage and hydro performance – value from increased system support activity and generation
• Six-month extension of coal at request of UK Government – winter contingency contract for security of supply
  • Units not called other than for testing
  • Closure of coal units in March 2023 following expiration of current agreement
• As at 17 February 2023, Drax had 23.3TWh of power hedged between 2023 and 2025 on its ROC and hydro generation assets at an average price of £152.8/MWh, inclusive of equivalent gas sales (transacted for the purpose of accessing additional liquidity for forward sales from ROC units and highly correlated to forward power prices) and the cost of unwinding equivalent gas sales. Excludes any sales under the CfD mechanism.

This announcement may contain certain statements, expectations, statistics, projections and other information that are, or may be, forward-looking. The accuracy and completeness of all such statements, including, without limitation, statements regarding the future financial position, strategy, projected costs, plans, beliefs, and objectives for the management of future operations of Drax Group plc (“Drax”) and its subsidiaries (the “Group”), are not warranted or guaranteed. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risk and uncertainty because they relate to events and depend on circumstances that may occur in the future. Although Drax believes that the statements, expectations, statistics and projections and other information reflected in such statements are reasonable, they reflect the Company’s current view and no assurance can be given that they will prove to be correct. Such events and statements involve risks and uncertainties. Actual results and outcomes may differ materially from those expressed or implied by those forward-looking statements. There are a number of factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Group, which could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, factors such as: future revenues being lower than expected; increasing competitive pressures in the industry; uncertainty as to future investment and support achieved in enabling the realisation of strategic aims and objectives; and/or general economic conditions or conditions affecting the relevant industry, both domestically and internationally, being less favourable than expected, including the impact of prevailing economic and political uncertainty. We do not intend to publicly update or revise these projections or other forward-looking statements to reflect events or circumstances after the date hereof, and we do not assume any responsibility for doing so.