Archives: Press Release

Drax to kickstart development of $40m Arkansas pellet plants

6 May 2021

Press releases

The three plants are together expected to produce around 120,000 metric tons of sustainable biomass pellets a year from sawmill residues, supporting the renewable energy company’s plans to increase self-supply to its power station in the U.K.

Drax will begin construction of the first plant later this month near a West Fraser sawmill in Leola, Grant County – with commissioning expected in October. The company will begin construction on two more plants in other locations in the coming months. In total, Drax will invest $40 million in the state, creating approximately 30 new direct jobs and many more indirect jobs across three Arkansas communities.

Drax has transformed its power station in the U.K. to become the largest decarbonization project in Europe by converting it to use sustainable biomass instead of coal.

The development of the “satellite” pellet plants is part of Drax’s strategy to increase biomass self-supply to five million tons by 2027, improving supply chain resilience while reducing pellet costs.

Will Gardiner, Drax Group CEO, said:

Drax Group CEO Will Gardiner [click to view/download]

“By building these new pellet plants Drax is bringing jobs and opportunities to rural communities in Arkansas, boosting the state’s post-COVID economic recovery.“Through this investment, Arkansas will play an important role in combating climate change, supporting Drax to increase the amount of sustainable biomass we produce as part of our plans to pioneer bioenergy with carbon capture and storage. By using sustainable biomass, we have displaced coal-fired power generation, reduced carbon emissions and provided renewable electricity for millions of homes and businesses in the UK.”

The Leola “satellite” pellet plant is expected to produce around 40,000 metric tons of sustainable biomass pellets a year. Drax will also utilize the sawdust and other dry residual materials, which are by-products created when timber is processed, at West Fraser’s facility.

“Drax’s ambitious company vision combined with the renowned tenacity and loyalty of Arkansans make this partnership an excellent match,” Gov. Asa Hutchinson said. “I am confident that this investment will benefit both the company and our communities for years to come.”

By co-locating the pellet facilities with sawmills, Drax will benefit from lower infrastructure, operational, and transportation costs.

“Each of these three Arkansas communities will be uniquely impacted by today’s announcement,” Arkansas Secretary of Commerce Mike Preston said. “Families in different regions across the state will experience new opportunities and their communities will experience continued growth because of Drax’s investment. I congratulate Drax on this exciting news and look forward to the ways that Arkansas will be influential in accomplishing the company’s mission to provide renewable electricity for millions of homes and businesses.”

Reducing the costs of its biomass supports the renewable energy company’s world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030 by developing bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS). This vital negative emissions technology could permanently remove millions of tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, while producing the renewable electricity needed to decarbonize global economies and address the climate emergency.

Drax owns and has interests in 17 other pellet plants and development projects across the U.S.  and South and Western Canada.

The company will host job fairs to recruit for positions at the Leola site later this month.

Media contacts:

Annmarie Sartor
Drax Biomass Communications Officer
E: [email protected]
T: +1 318-801-0046

Aidan Kerr
Drax Group Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: +44 7849 090368

Picture caption: Morehouse BioEnergy, an existing Drax Biomass wood pellet plant located in Louisiana, close to the border with Arkansas. The majority of its fibre comes from responsibly managed working forests in Arkansas and sawmill residues. Click to view/download here. 

Editor’s Notes

  • The sustainable biomass pellets produced at the new satellite plants will be transported to Bruce Oakley terminal in Little Rock, Ark. before being shipped south to Louisiana to oceangoing vessels.
  • Each pellet plant is expected to produce 40kt per year, with the total cluster expected to produce120kt per year.
  • The development of the three ‘satellite’ plants comes after Drax’s recent acquisition of 11 pellet plants across the USA and Canada, making it a world-leading biomass pellet production and supply business.
  • Drax’s strategy is to reduce the costs of its pellets to £50/MWh by 2027.
  • In 2020, around 43% of the material used in Drax Power Station’s pellets came from sawmill residues. The rest came from low-grade material such as treetops, limbs and misshapen and diseased trees not suitable for other use and thinnings – small trees removed maximise the growth of the forest.

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Its 3,400 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties.

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

Pellet production and supply:

Drax owns and has interests in 17 pellet mills in the US South and Western Canada which have the capacity to manufacture 4.9 million tonnes of compressed wood pellets (biomass) a year. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 20% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers: 

Through its two B2B energy supply brands, Haven Power and Opus Energy, Drax supplies energy to 250,000 businesses across Britain.

For more information visit www.drax.com

Drax signs up to ambitious Race To Zero climate commitment

29 April 2021

Press releases
Aerial photo of biomass storage domes, Drax Power Station

Drax Group has today joined the Race to Zero, committing the company to science-based targets to help fight the climate crisis.

Led by the United Nations, Drax joins more than 2000 companies worldwide, that have signed up to the campaign, which brings together businesses, cities, regions, states, and universities with a joint commitment to science-based net zero targets to limit global temperature increases to 1.5°C above preindustrial levels.

Drax has already made ambitious climate commitments and was the first company in the world to announce a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, at COP 25 in Madrid in 2019.

Having converted its power station, near Selby in North Yorkshire, to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. Now it plans to go further by using a vital negative emissions technology – bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), to capture and permanently remove millions of tonnes of CO2 from the atmosphere each year, creating a negative carbon footprint for the company.

Will Gardiner, Drax Group CEO, said:

“The climate crisis is the greatest challenge the world faces, and tackling it requires action that transcends borders, bringing together businesses and governments with a shared goal.

“At Drax, we’re investing in the innovative green technology – bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), which will be vital if the UK is to meet its ambitious target to reduce carbon emissions by 78% by 2035, announced by the Prime Minister last week. By joining Race to Zero we are committing to further reducing our emissions and tackling the climate emergency.”

Andrew Griffith MP, Net Zero Champion, said:

“I’m delighted Drax has signed on to be part of the Race to Zero coalition. Businesses have a central role to play in making a successful transition to a low carbon economy and shifting to a net-zero emissions economy requires coordinated action across all sectors. I hope other businesses across the sector follow in Drax’s footsteps and join the Race to Zero.”

ENDS

Media contacts:

Ben Wicks
Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: 07761525662

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Its 3,400 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties.

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

Pellet production and supply:

Drax owns and has interests in 17 pellet mills in the US South and Western Canada which have the capacity to manufacture 4.9 million tonnes of compressed wood pellets (biomass) a year. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 20% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers:

Through its two B2B energy supply brands, Haven Power and Opus Energy, Drax supplies energy to 250,000 businesses across Britain.

For more information visit www.drax.comcop

Drax delivers laptops for learners to ensure Yorkshire’s students are not left behind in their studies

27 April 2021

Press releases
  • Energy company Drax is delivering 320 more laptops with prepaid internet access to schools and colleges local to its operations across Britain, to ensure students whose learning has been affected by Covid lockdowns can catch-up.
  • Seven schools, across Yorkshire will receive 54 of the Drax HP Chromebook laptops with pre-paid dongles – taking the total donated by Drax to schools in Yorkshire to 402.
  • The latest donation takes the total number of laptops provided by Drax, to more than 90 schools, to around 1,200, over the last 12 months.

Energy company Drax is furthering its commitment to supporting the education of children and young people local to its operations, by donating 54 more laptops to seven schools across Yorkshire, to ensure no child is left behind as a result of the Covid pandemic.

The donation is part of a national effort, which has seen the company donate over 1,200 laptops to 90 schools across Britain, to ensure no child is left behind as a result of school closures.

The £60,000 investment includes three months of pre-paid internet access via a 30GB dongle, to enable students to catch-up on missed learning following the re-opening of schools as the UK’s third lockdown comes to an end.

The laptops are being delivered to Drax’s partner schools local to its operations across Britain as part of the energy company’s efforts to support its communities as they recover from the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. It follows the launch of Drax’s Mobilising a Million initiative, which aims to connect with one million people by 2025 to improve skills, education, employability and opportunity.

Will Gardiner, Drax Group CEO, said:

“We’ve given around 1,200 laptops to almost 100 schools since the Covid crisis started. Ensuring no child is left disadvantaged as a result of the pandemic is crucial if we are to avoid a lost generation of young people, by helping them to stay connected and catch-up on their learning.

“Drax has an important part to play in making sure we have a future workforce with the skills to deliver the new technologies needed to decarbonise the economy and meet the UK’s net zero target. We hope this donation will make a significant contribution to the UK’s green recovery from Covid.”

Nigel Adams, MP for Selby and Ainsty said:

“I would like to thank Drax for the vital role they have played throughout the Covid pandemic by generating our electricity but also for their donations of equipment which has enabled children to continue with their education while schools were closed.

“This donation of 320 additional laptops including these to Kellington Primary School will help children with their education by giving them easy access to the wide range of approved educational material that is now available on-line. Now that our children are back at school technology can be used more and more to help children reach their full potential.”

Helen Humphrys, Headteacher at Kellington Primary School, near Selby, said:

“The kind donation of ten Chromebooks, with access to the internet, from Drax will make a huge difference to the children here at Kellington Primary School. We have and continue to use digital platforms to support the teaching and learning we provide both within school and to access at home. The Chromebooks will allow more of our children access to the internet in order to support their ‘catch-up’ of missed learning and their ongoing education.”

Last year Drax donated more than 850 laptops to over 40 partner schools. This takes the total package of support Drax has provided to the communities in which it operates during the Covid crisis to almost three quarters of a million.

ENDS

Picture caption: Kellington Primary – Drax Community Engagement Team Leader Jane Breach, Parliamentary Assistant to Nigel Adams MP Howard Ferguson and Headteacher Helen Humphrys as well as pupils receiving the Drax branded Chromebooks. Names L-R: Elliot, Charlotte, Max, William and Poppy

Media contacts:

Ben Wicks
Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: 07761525662

Megan Hopgood
Media Intern
E: [email protected]
T: 07936350175

Editor’s Notes

Drax has provided more than £750,000 in support to its communities and customers since the Covid pandemic started. This includes:

  • £340,000 for 1,200 laptops, with three months of pre-paid internet access, to around 94 partner schools and colleges in communities local to Drax’s operations.
  • Two months of free power worth £236,000 for 170 selected small care homes, local to Drax’s operations across England, Scotland & Wales, supplied by Drax’s B2B supply brands Haven Power and Opus Energy.
  • £150,000 donation to the Money Advise Services’ Business Debtline to help SMEs facing financial hardship. The contribution supported the creation of a dedicated webpage and phoneline.
  • $40,000 community donation to support food banks local to Drax’s operations in the US.

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Its 3,400 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties.

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

Pellet production and supply:

Drax owns and has interests in 17 pellet mills in the US South and Western Canada which have the capacity to manufacture 4.9 million tonnes of compressed wood pellets (biomass) a year. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 20% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers: 

Through its two B2B energy supply brands, Haven Power and Opus Energy, Drax supplies energy to 250,000 businesses across Britain.

For more information visit www.drax.com

Drax delivers laptops for learners to ensure Lincolnshire’s students are not left behind in their studies

Press releases
  • Energy company Drax is delivering 320 more laptops with prepaid internet access to schools and colleges local to its operations across Britain, to ensure students whose learning has been affected by Covid lockdowns can catch-up.
  • Seven schools in Lincolnshire will receive 96 of the Drax HP Chromebook laptops with pre-paid internet dongles – taking the total donated by Drax to schools in the county to 160.
  • The latest donation means the total number of laptops provided by Drax, to more than 90 schools, to around 1,200, over the last 12 months.

Energy company Drax is furthering its commitment to supporting the education of children and young people local to its operations, by donating 96 more laptops to seven schools across Lincolnshire, to ensure no child is left behind as a result of the Covid pandemic.

The donation is part of a national effort, which has seen the company donate over 1,200 laptops to 90 schools across Britain, to ensure no child is left behind as a result of school closures.

The £60,000 investment includes three months of pre-paid internet access via a 30GB dongle, to enable students to catch-up on missed learning following the re-opening of schools as the UK’s third lockdown comes to an end.

The laptops are being delivered to Drax’s partner schools local to its operations across Britain as part of the energy company’s efforts to support its communities as they recover from the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. It follows the launch of Drax’s Mobilising a Million initiative, which aims to connect with one million people by 2025 to improve skills, education, employability and opportunity.

Will Gardiner, Drax Group CEO, said:

“We’ve given around 1,200 laptops to almost 100 schools since the Covid crisis started. Ensuring no child is left disadvantaged as a result of the pandemic is crucial if we are to avoid a lost generation of young people, by helping them to stay connected and catch-up on their learning.

“Drax has an important part to play in making sure we have a future workforce with the skills to deliver the new technologies needed to decarbonise the economy and meet the UK’s net zero target. We hope this donation will make a significant contribution to the UK’s green recovery from Covid.”

Martin Vickers, MP for the Cleethorpes, said:

“It’s great news that schools are re-opening and children are returning to their learning. However, for some, they will not have had access to the equipment needed to stay connected during the lockdown.

“For children and young people with limited access to a laptop and the internet, the pandemic will have had a significant impact on their learning. This generous donation by Drax will help remove barriers to learning and I’m delighted to give it my support.”

Caroline Breslin, Headteacher at New Holland Primary School, said:

“This donation of laptops and access to the internet from Drax will make a huge difference to students whose education has been impacted during the last year.  These laptops will be essential, in giving access to the internet so students can catch-up on missed learning, whilst supporting their ongoing education.”

Last year Drax donated more than 850 laptops to over 40 partner schools. This takes the total package of support Drax has provided to the communities in which it operates during the Covid crisis to almost three quarters of a million.

ENDS

Picture caption: New Holland Students receiving Drax Branded Chromebooks L-R: Lewis, Laura, Ashleigh and Sebastian, JD Networks Director Richard Loftus and School IT Coordinator Amy Box

Media contacts:

Ben Wicks
Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: 07761525662

Megan Hopgood
Media Intern
E: [email protected]
T: 07936350175

Editor’s Notes

Drax has provided more than £750,000 in support to its communities and customers since the Covid pandemic started. This includes:

  • £340,000 for 1,200 laptops, with three months of pre-paid internet access, to around 94 partner schools and colleges in communities local to Drax’s operations.
  • Two months of free power worth £236,000 for 170 selected small care homes, local to Drax’s operations across England, Scotland & Wales, supplied by Drax’s B2B supply brands Haven Power and Opus Energy.
  • £150,000 donation to the Money Advise Services’ Business Debtline to help SMEs facing financial hardship. The contribution supported the creation of a dedicated webpage and phoneline.
  • $40,000 community donation to support food banks local to Drax’s operations in the US.

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Its 3,400 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties.

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

Pellet production and supply:

Drax owns and has interests in 17 pellet mills in the US South and Western Canada which have the capacity to manufacture 4.9 million tonnes of compressed wood pellets (biomass) a year. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 20% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers: 

Through its two B2B energy supply brands, Haven Power and Opus Energy, Drax supplies energy to 250,000 businesses across Britain.

For more information visit www.drax.com

Drax delivers laptops for learners to ensure Scotland’s students are not left behind in their studies

Press releases
  • Energy company Drax is delivering 320 more laptops with prepaid internet access to schools and colleges local to its operations across Britain, to ensure students whose learning has been affected by Covid lockdowns can catch-up.
  • Nine schools, across Scotland will receive 60 of the Drax HP Chromebook laptops with pre-paid dongles – taking the total donated by Drax to schools in Scotland to 242.
  • The latest donation takes the total number of laptops provided by Drax, to more than 90 schools, to around 1,200, over the last 12 months.

Energy company Drax is furthering its commitment to supporting the education of children and young people local to its operations, by donating 60 more laptops to nine schools across Scotland, to ensure no child is left behind as a result of the Covid pandemic.

The donation is part of a national effort, which has seen the company donate over 1,200 laptops to 90 schools across Britain, to ensure no child is left behind as a result of school closures.

The £60,000 investment includes three months of pre-paid internet access via a 30GB dongle, to enable students to catch-up on missed learning following the re-opening of schools as the UK’s third lockdown comes to an end.

The laptops are being delivered to Drax’s partner schools local to its operations across Britain as part of the energy company’s efforts to support its communities as they recover from the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. It follows the launch of Drax’s Mobilising a Million initiative, which aims to connect with one million people by 2025 to improve skills, education, employability and opportunity.

Will Gardiner, Drax Group CEO, said:

“We’ve given around 1,200 laptops to almost 100 schools since the Covid crisis started. Ensuring no child is left disadvantaged as a result of the pandemic is crucial if we are to avoid a lost generation of young people, by helping them to stay connected and catch-up on their learning.

“Drax has an important part to play in making sure we have a future workforce with the skills to deliver the new technologies needed to decarbonise the economy and meet the UK’s net zero target. We hope this donation will make a significant contribution to the UK’s green recovery from Covid.”

Dumfries and Galloway MP and Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has welcomed further support by the Drax Group to school pupils and students, both nationally and in his own constituency.

Mr Jack said:

“I know from my own constituents, particularly those living near the Galloway Hydro Scheme, just how much young learners valued the use of the laptops and free internet access previously provided by Drax.

“The last year has been very challenging for everyone, not least for the generation of young people whose education has been disrupted by Covid-19 lockdowns.

“Now that school children and college students are returning to the classroom, amidst extensive measures to keep them safe, the additional laptops being provided by Drax will again be extremely useful and appreciated.

“One lesson I believe has been highlighted through the current health crisis is the importance of internet access and good broadband connections — an area of technology, particularly in rural areas, I wish to see further improved in the coming years.”

Joanna Campbell, Principal of Dumfries and Galloway College, said:

“This donation of laptops and access to the internet from Drax will make a huge difference to students whose education has been impacted during the last year. These laptops will be essential, in giving access to the internet so students can catch-up on missed learning, whilst supporting their ongoing education.”

Last year Drax donated more than 850 laptops to over 40 partner schools. This takes the total package of support Drax has provided to the communities in which it operates during the Covid crisis to almost three quarters of a million.

ENDS

Photo caption: Galloway College Curriculum Manager Joyce Litster and Hospitality and Tourism Student Neve Jones who received one of the Drax branded Chromebooks.

Media contacts:

Ben Wicks
Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: 07761525662

Megan Hopgood
Media Intern
E: [email protected]
T: 07936350175

Editor’s Notes

Drax has provided more than £750,000 in support to its communities and customers since the Covid pandemic started. This includes:

  • £340,000 for 1,200 laptops, with three months of pre-paid internet access, to around 94 partner schools and colleges in communities local to Drax’s operations.
  • Two months of free power worth £236,000 for 170 selected small care homes, local to Drax’s operations across England, Scotland & Wales, supplied by Drax’s B2B supply brands Haven Power and Opus Energy.
  • £150,000 donation to the Money Advise Services’ Business Debtline to help SMEs facing financial hardship. The contribution supported the creation of a dedicated webpage and phoneline.
  • $40,000 community donation to support food banks local to Drax’s operations in the US.

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Its 3,400 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties.

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

Pellet production and supply:

Drax owns and has interests in 17 pellet mills in the US South and Western Canada which have the capacity to manufacture 4.9 million tonnes of compressed wood pellets (biomass) a year. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 20% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers: 

Through its two B2B energy supply brands, Haven Power and Opus Energy, Drax supplies energy to 250,000 businesses across Britain.

For more information visit www.drax.com

Drax delivers laptops for learners to ensure Dumfries & Galloway’s students are not left behind in their studies

Press releases
  • Energy company Drax is delivering 320 more laptops with prepaid internet access to schools and colleges local to its operations across Britain, to ensure students whose learning has been affected by Covid lockdowns can catch-up.
  • Three schools, across Dumfries & Galloway will receive 20 of the Drax HP Chromebook laptops with pre-paid dongles – taking the total donated by Drax to schools in Dumfries & Galloway to 92.
  • The latest donation takes the total number of laptops provided by Drax, to more than 90 schools, to around 1,200, over the last 12 months.

Energy company Drax is furthering its commitment to supporting the education of children and young people local to its operations, by donating 20 more laptops to two schools across Dumfries & Galloway, to ensure no child is left behind as a result of the Covid pandemic.

The donation is part of a national effort, which has seen the company donate over 1,200 laptops to 90 schools across Britain, to ensure no child is left behind as a result of school closures.

The £60,000 investment includes three months of pre-paid internet access via a 30GB dongle, to enable students to catch-up on missed learning following the re-opening of schools as the UK’s third lockdown comes to an end.

The laptops are being delivered to Drax’s partner schools local to its operations across Britain as part of the energy company’s efforts to support its communities as they recover from the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. It follows the launch of Drax’s Mobilising a Million initiative, which aims to connect with one million people by 2025 to improve skills, education, employability and opportunity.

Will Gardiner, Drax Group CEO, said:

“We’ve given around 1,200 laptops to almost 100 schools since the Covid crisis started. Ensuring no child is left disadvantaged as a result of the pandemic is crucial if we are to avoid a lost generation of young people, by helping them to stay connected and catch-up on their learning.

“Drax has an important part to play in making sure we have a future workforce with the skills to deliver the new technologies needed to decarbonise the economy and meet the UK’s net zero target. We hope this donation will make a significant contribution to the UK’s green recovery from Covid.”

Dumfries and Galloway MP and Scottish Secretary Alister Jack has welcomed further support by the Drax Group to school pupils and students, both nationally and in his own constituency.

Mr Jack said:

“I know from my own constituents, particularly those living near the Galloway Hydro Scheme, just how much young learners valued the use of the laptops and free internet access previously provided by Drax.

“The last year has been very challenging for everyone, not least for the generation of young people whose education has been disrupted by Covid-19 lockdowns.

“Now that school children and college students are returning to the classroom, amidst extensive measures to keep them safe, the additional laptops being provided by Drax will again be extremely useful and appreciated.

“One lesson I believe has been highlighted through the current health crisis is the importance of internet access and good broadband connections — an area of technology, particularly in rural areas, I wish to see further improved in the coming years.”

Joanna Campbell, Principal of Dumfries and Galloway College, said:

“This donation of laptops and access to the internet from Drax will make a huge difference to students whose education has been impacted during the last year. These laptops will be essential, in giving access to the internet so students can catch-up on missed learning, whilst supporting their ongoing education.”

Last year Drax donated more than 850 laptops to over 40 partner schools. This takes the total package of support Drax has provided to the communities in which it operates during the Covid crisis to almost three quarters of a million.

ENDS

Photo caption: Galloway College Curriculum Manager Joyce Litster and Hospitality and Tourism Student Neve Jones who received one of the Drax branded Chromebooks.

Media contacts:

Ben Wicks
Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: 07761525662

Megan Hopgood
Media Intern
E: [email protected]
T: 07936350175

Editor’s Notes

Drax has provided more than £750,000 in support to its communities and customers since the Covid pandemic started. This includes:

  • £340,000 for 1,200 laptops, with three months of pre-paid internet access, to around 94 partner schools and colleges in communities local to Drax’s operations.
  • Two months of free power worth £236,000 for 170 selected small care homes, local to Drax’s operations across England, Scotland & Wales, supplied by Drax’s B2B supply brands Haven Power and Opus Energy.
  • £150,000 donation to the Money Advise Services’ Business Debtline to help SMEs facing financial hardship. The contribution supported the creation of a dedicated webpage and phoneline.
  • $40,000 community donation to support food banks local to Drax’s operations in the US.

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Its 3,400 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties.

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

Pellet production and supply:

Drax owns and has interests in 17 pellet mills in the US South and Western Canada which have the capacity to manufacture 4.9 million tonnes of compressed wood pellets (biomass) a year. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 20% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers:

Through its two B2B energy supply brands, Haven Power and Opus Energy, Drax supplies energy to 250,000 businesses across Britain.

For more information visit www.drax.com

Drax delivers laptops for learners to ensure Northampton’s students are not left behind in their studies

Press releases
  • Energy company Drax is delivering 320 more laptops with prepaid internet access to schools and colleges local to its operations across Britain, to ensure students whose learning has been affected by Covid lockdowns can catch-up.
  • Kings Heath Primary Academy in Northampton will receive 15 of the Drax HP Chromebook laptops with pre-paid dongles – taking the total donated by Drax to schools in Northampton to 65.
  • The latest donation means the total number of laptops provided by Drax, to more than 90 schools, to around 1,200, over the last 12 months.

Energy company Drax is furthering its commitment to supporting the education of children and young people local to its operations, by donating 15 laptops to Kings Heath Primary Academy in Northampton.

The donation is part of a national effort, which has seen the company donate over 1,200 laptops to 90 schools across Britain, to ensure no child is left behind as a result of the Covid pandemic.

The £60,000 investment includes three months of pre-paid internet access via a 30GB dongle, to enable students to catch-up on missed learning following the re-opening of schools as the UK’s third lockdown comes to an end.

The laptops are being delivered to Drax’s partner schools local to its operations across Britain as part of the energy company’s efforts to support its communities as they recover from the ongoing effects of the Covid-19 pandemic. It follows the launch of Drax’s Mobilising a Million initiative, which aims to connect with one million people by 2025 to improve skills, education, employability and opportunity.

Will Gardiner, Drax Group CEO, said:

“We’ve given around 1,200 laptops to almost 100 schools since the Covid crisis started. Ensuring no child is left disadvantaged as a result of the pandemic is crucial if we are to avoid a lost generation of young people, by helping them to stay connected and catch-up on their learning.

“Drax has an important part to play in making sure we have a future workforce with the skills to deliver the new technologies needed to decarbonise the economy and meet the UK’s net zero target. We hope this donation will make a significant contribution to the UK’s green recovery from Covid.”

Andrew Lewer MBE, MP for Northampton South, said:

“King’s Heath Primary has been at the forefront of keeping pupils engaged during the pandemic via remote and electronic learning and this generous donation by Drax will greatly assist in their continuing to do so; they have my sincere thanks.”

Kim Duff, Headteacher at Kings Heath Primary Academy, said:

“This donation of laptops and access to the internet from Drax will make a huge difference to students whose education has been impacted during the last year.  These laptops will be essential, in giving access to the internet so students can catch-up on missed learning, whilst supporting their ongoing education.”

Last year Drax donated more than 850 laptops to over 40 partner schools. This takes the total package of support Drax has provided to the communities in which it operates during the Covid crisis to almost three quarters of a million.

ENDS

Media contacts:

Ben Wicks
Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: 07761525662

Megan Hopgood
Media Intern
E: [email protected]
T: 07936350175

Editor’s Notes

Drax has provided more than £750,000 in support to its communities and customers since the Covid pandemic started. This includes:

  • £340,000 for 1,200 laptops, with three months of pre-paid internet access, to around 94 partner schools and colleges in communities local to Drax’s operations.
  • Two months of free power worth £236,000 for 170 selected small care homes, local to Drax’s operations across England, Scotland & Wales, supplied by Drax’s B2B supply brands Haven Power and Opus Energy.
  • £150,000 donation to the Money Advise Services’ Business Debtline to help SMEs facing financial hardship. The contribution supported the creation of a dedicated webpage and phoneline.
  • $40,000 community donation to support food banks local to Drax’s operations in the US.

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Its 3,400 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties.

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

Pellet production and supply:

Drax owns and has interests in 17 pellet mills in the US South and Western Canada which have the capacity to manufacture 4.9 million tonnes of compressed wood pellets (biomass) a year. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 20% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers: 

Through its two B2B energy supply brands, Haven Power and Opus Energy, Drax supplies energy to 250,000 businesses across Britain.

For more information visit www.drax.com

Drax delivers virtual work experience to boost employability during Covid crisis

19 April 2021

Press releases
  • Drax Group has offered students a virtual insight into the world of work as part of the energy company’s continued support for STEM education, supporting its efforts to increase social mobility for one million people.
  • The virtual work experience programme ran online, during the school holidays providing students with an insight into working in the energy sector.

Drax Power Station usually hosts dozens of school pupils during its work experience programmes each year, as well as thousands of visitors from schools and colleges who enjoy free educational tours.

However, during the Covid crisis all educational visits to the site have had to stop, to reduce Covid risks and protect Drax’s keyworkers, who operate its power stations and keep the lights on for millions of homes and businesses across England and Scotland.

To ensure they’re not missing out on the valuable insights they gain from work experience programmes, the energy company put together a four-day online programme for disadvantaged students from schools across England.

It has plans to roll the virtual work experience programme out nationally, supporting the company’s Mobilising a Million initiative, which aims to increase social mobility by creating opportunities to support education and improve employability, ensuring the country has the skilled workforce needed to support a post-covid, green economic recovery.

Drax Group’s Head of Sustainable Business, Vicky Bullivant, said:

“We work closely with schools in our communities to inspire children from all backgrounds to study STEM subjects, so the next generation has the education and skills needed to support businesses like ours as we continue to develop and grow.

“With students unable to visit our sites during the Covid crisis, it’s essential they don’t miss out on the opportunities businesses like Drax would usually provide.

“Virtual Work Experience builds on the work we’ve already done to provide laptops, free internet access and virtual tours of the power station to ensure no students are left behind in their studies during the lockdown.”

Students who applied to take part in Drax’s virtual work experience programme could choose from four different business streams: Engineering, Business Support, IT and Project Management & Finance.

Minister for Apprenticeships and Skills, Gillian Keegan said:

“Giving young people the chance to gain a first glimpse into the workplace is vital to inspire their career goals and open their eyes to the wide range of opportunities available to them.

“It’s fantastic to see Drax offering these brilliant opportunities.”

Drax partnered with Teach First to deliver its virtual work experience programme – an educational charity which aims to build a fair education for all by tackling inequality in the sector.

Russell Hobby, CEO of Teach First said:

“Even before the pandemic hit, the poorest pupils were too often left behind. Their odds of succeeding at school and in the working world are now even tougher as a result of Covid-19. Work experience is a vital opportunity for young people from disadvantaged backgrounds to gain the skills and connections they need to succeed. We’re grateful to businesses like Drax for helping to make sure that every child can maximise their potential.”

Participants in Drax’s virtual work experience programme learnt about the energy company, focusing on developing employability skills and learning about their business area through conversations with employees and targeted projects. They also had the opportunity to ask members of Drax’s executive committee about their careers during a Q&A session.

Engineering student Tahmid Md said:

“This was a great week and I’ve learnt a lot from the experience. The CV building and interview sessions were especially helpful, and I really enjoyed the engineering projects I took part in.”

This year’s Covid lockdown resulted in many students being home schooled for months, so the Drax virtual work experience programme took place during the Easter Holidays, so that participants did not miss any more vital classroom time during the school term.

Drax plans to host two more virtual work experience programmes during the summer and October school holidays.

ENDS

Media contacts:

Ben Wicks
Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: 07761525662

Megan Hopgood
Media and PR Intern
E: [email protected]
T: 07936350175

Editor’s Notes

When Covid restrictions ease and it is safe to do so, Drax intends to resume its usual work experience programme on site, but it will continue to host a virtual programme online as well.

This will enable more students to participate from across England, who may previously have found it difficult to take part, due to barriers preventing their attendance, such as geography, opportunity and economic factors.

Drax announced its Mobilising a Million initiative earlier this year, when it published its Opportunity Action Plan in partnership with the Social Mobility Pledge led by former Education Secretary, the Rt Hon Justine Greening.

Drax is committed to supporting the communities local to its operations. It has invested more than £750,000 to support its customers and local communities during the Covid-19 crisis including donating 850 laptops to schools and colleges across the country, helping to make sure children without access to computers or the internet at home, were not left behind in their studies during the Covid crisis.

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Its 3,400 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties.

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

Pellet production and supply:

Drax owns and has interests in 17 pellet mills in the US South and Western Canada which have the capacity to manufacture 4.9 million tonnes of compressed wood pellets (biomass) a year. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 20% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers:  

Through its two B2B energy supply brands, Haven Power and Opus Energy, Drax supplies energy to 250,000 businesses across Britain.

For more information visit www.drax.com

About Teach First

Teach First is an education charity with a mission to build a fair education for all. Through a range of school leadership programmes the charity supports teachers, leaders and schools facing the biggest challenges, serving the most disadvantaged communities.

The charity has now recruited over 18,000 teachers and leaders, has over 85 head teachers in their alumni and has supported over a million pupils.

Those on the Training Programme commit to a minimum of two years at their partner school, where they teach a Newly Qualified Teacher (NQT) timetable; more than half stay on for a third year. Over 62% of all the teachers who’ve completed training since 2003 are currently teaching. The charity supports whole leadership teams through Leading Together. Develops individuals to become effective leaders through Middle Leader, Senior Leader and Headship programmes that include a National Professional Qualification. And provides Career Leader training to develop a long-term, school-wide careers strategy to improve student opportunities after school.

Teach First currently operates in Wales and in all regions across England: London, West Midlands, East Midlands, Yorkshire the Humber, North West, North East, South East, South Coast, South West and the East of England.

Drax completes acquisition of Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc.

13 April 2021

Press releases

The acquisition positions Drax as the world’s leading sustainable biomass generation and supply business. It received overwhelming support from both sets of shareholders with 95.97% of Pinnacle’s and 99.99% of Drax’s shareholders voting in favour.

It transforms Drax into a truly international business, trading bioenergy from the North America continent to Europe and Asia, and positions the enlarged Group to take advantage of global growth opportunities, with the market for biomass pellets for renewable generation in Europe and Asia expected to grow significantly.

This large and geographically diversified asset base enhances Drax’s sourcing flexibility and security of supply.

The acquisition will increase Drax’s annual operational capacity to 4.9 million tonnes of sustainable biomass pellets from 2022, at 17 plants in locations across Western Canada and the US South – up from 1.6Mt now. Of this increased capacity, 2.9 million will be available for Drax’s self-supply requirements from 2022. It will also give the Group access to four deep water port facilities and three major wood fibre baskets.

By advancing the strategy to increase self-supply and reduce biomass production costs, the acquisition paves the way for the Company’s plans to deliver Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS), permanently removing millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year.

By becoming a world leader in BECCS, Drax can deliver on its purpose of enabling a zero carbon, lower cost energy future, and achieve its ambition to become a carbon negative company by 2030.  Drax will seek to export its BECCS expertise around the world to support global efforts to address the climate emergency.

Will Gardiner, Chief Executive Officer of Drax, said:

“This is an exciting and important acquisition which positions Drax as the world’s leading sustainable biomass generation and supply business. I am delighted to welcome our new Pinnacle colleagues to the Drax family and look forward to what we can achieve together.

Drax Group CEO Will Gardiner

Drax Group CEO Will Gardiner in the control room at Drax Power Station [Click to view/download]

“As well as making Drax an international supplier of sustainable biomass, this deal advances our strategy to increase self-supply, reduce our own biomass production cost and create a long-term future for sustainable bioenergy. We expect to benefit greatly from Pinnacle’s operational and commercial expertise.

“Through this deal we are also advancing our plans to use BECCS to permanently remove millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year and become a carbon negative company by 2030. Negative emissions from BECCS are vital if we are to address the global climate emergency. BECCS will also provide a significant share of the renewable electricity needed in a net zero economy, support green jobs and drive growth in a post-COVID recovery.”

ENDS

Media contacts:

Ali Lewis
Drax Group Head of Media and PR
E: [email protected]
T: +44 (0) 7712 670 888

Editor’s Notes:

Read stock market announcement: Completion of the acquisition of Pinnacle Renewable Energy Inc.

Read blog by Will Gardiner: The world’s leading sustainable biomass generation and supply business

Drax now has ownership interests in a total of ten operational pellet plants, and one in development, in Western Canada and the US South:

PlantLocationStatusCommissioningNameplate Capacity (Mt)Pinnacle Ownership (%)
Williams LakeBC, CanadaOperational20040.2100%
HoustonBC, CanadaOperational20060.230%
ArmstrongBC, CanadaOperational20070.1100%
MeadowbankBC, CanadaOperational20080.2100%
Burns LakeBC, CanadaOperational20110.4100%
LavingtonBC, CanadaOperational20150.375%
SmithersBC, CanadaOperational20180.170%
EntwistleAlberta, CanadaOperational20180.4100%
AlicevilleAlabama, USAOperational20180.370%
High LevelAlberta, CanadaOperational20200.250%
DemopolisAlabama, USADevelopmentEst. 20210.470%
Total2.982%

These are in addition to the six pellet plants in the US South Drax already owns:

  • LaSalle and Morehouse pellet plants in Louisiana,
  • Amite in Mississippi
  • Three satellite pellet plants in Arkansas which are in development.

As a result of the acquisition Drax now has access to four deep water ports, providing good access to European and Asian markets. The ports are:

  • Vancouver, BC, Canada
  • Prince Rupert, BC, Canada
  • Mobile, Alabama, USA
  • Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA

Drax maintains a rigorous and robust approach to biomass sustainability, as well as the safe operation of its pellet plants.

Pinnacle’s wood pellets are principally sourced from sawdust and other materials left over from existing sawmilling activity, which would otherwise be left to decompose or be burned. 

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Its 3,400 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties.

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

Pellet production and supply:

Drax owns and has interests in 17 pellet mills in the US South and Western Canada which have the capacity to manufacture 4.9 million tonnes of compressed wood pellets (biomass) a year. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 20% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers:  

Through its two B2B energy supply brands, Haven Power and Opus Energy, Drax supplies energy to 250,000 businesses across Britain.

For more information visit www.drax.com