- Comprehensive strategy includes introduction of a new sustainability framework
- Created in collaboration with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
- Company also outlines ambition to reach net zero by the end of 2040 across Drax’s value chain
Renewable energy company Drax has announced an enhanced approach to deliver on its global sustainability targets and to enhance the way it manages its impact on the climate, nature and people.
As part of this approach, a new sustainability framework has been developed in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from the scientific community, academics, employees, investors and eNGOs (environmental non-government organisations).
The plan includes 26 specific, measurable and time-bound targets which will govern the business’ approach, helping to further improve how it interacts with key issues such as emissions reduction, forestry, biodiversity, water efficiency and supporting local communities.
Central to this is Drax’s ambition to reach net zero across its value chain by the end of 2040, including steps aimed at decarbonising its supply chains to prioritise the low carbon delivery of biomass fibre to Drax Power Station and moving forward with renewable power sources for its pellet plants.
Key initiatives included in the new sustainability framework include:
- Community giving focused on providing STEM education and green skills training for people in under-served communities in the regions where Drax operates.
- Automating digital data gathering to improve sourcing governance and traceability in the company’s supply chain
- Implement nature positive action plans for Drax’s sites and develop plans for Drax’s priority biomass sourcing areas to help nature thrive by the end of 2030.
- Continue to develop and evaluate options to permanently remove carbon from the atmosphere via Drax and Elimini’s carbon removals projects.
- Deliver biodiversity enhancements across all Drax sites and take action to support biodiversity and ecosystem resilience in Drax’s value chain by the end of 2030.
- Working to represent the communities Drax operates in and prioritising health and safety for all Drax colleagues.
Miguel Veiga-Pestana, Drax Group Chief Sustainability Officer, said:
“Our new sustainability framework signals a significant change in the way Drax manages its impact on the environment, communities and nature. Throughout the process we have listened to and learned much from the wide variety of stakeholders who have helped us develop this plan, which will be key to helping to ensure Drax can provide renewable biomass power generation as sustainably and responsibly as possible for years to come.”
“This launch is not the end of the process, however, it is just the start. In the coming months and years, the climate crisis will become more acute. The need for action will become greater, and the role of carbon removals will become even more important. That means we will have to work even harder to aim to ensure our operations help reduce humanity’s impact on the planet.”
ENDS
Notes to Editors
A link to Drax’s Sustainability Framework can be found here.
Media contacts:
Kieran Wilson
E: [email protected]
T: 07729092807
About Drax
Drax’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future. Our strategic aims are to be a global leader in both carbon removals and sustainable biomass pellet production, and to be a UK leader in dispatchable, renewable generation.
Our operations
Drax owns and operates a portfolio of flexible, low-carbon and renewable UK power assets – biomass, hydro, and pumped storage generation – which provide dispatchable power and system support services to the electricity grid.
We are the UK’s largest source of renewable power by output, and Drax Power Station is the UK’s largest single source of renewable electricity by output.
Through our pellet production facilities in North America, Drax is a leading integrated producer of sustainable biomass. Drax has 18 operational and development pellet production sites which will have a nameplate capacity of around 5.4 million tonnes once expansions are complete.
Drax supplies renewable electricity to UK industrial and commercial customers, offering a range of energy-related services including energy optimisation, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.
Our future
Drax is progressing options for carbon removals using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology globally and at our UK biomass power station. We are progressing plans to develop 7 million tonnes of carbon removals through BECCS by 2030.
In 2024, we launched Elimini, a US-based company to lead our global efforts to deliver carbon removals at scale. Elimini’s purpose is to remove carbon for good. To achieve this, it is convening engineers, environmentalists, communities, investors, and innovators to scale the market for carbon removals, with the aspiration of transforming our economies from carbon emitters to carbon removers. For more information, visit elimini.com.
