Archives: Press Release

Drax Group to supply free energy to 27 care homes across Yorkshire & The Humber during COVID-19 crisis

5 May 2020

Press releases
  • Energy company Drax Group is supplying 27 small care homes across Yorkshire & The Humber with free electricity and gas for two months during the Covid-19 crisis
  • The initiative is part of a package of support worth almost £636,000 Drax Group is providing to its UK customers and communities to help them during the pandemic

They are amongst 170 care homes selected to receive the free energy, which are small businesses based in communities local to Drax’s operations across England, Scotland and Wales and are already supplied by Opus Energy and Haven Power – both part of Drax Group.

Drax Group CEO, Will Gardiner said:

“We’re working hard to offer more support to our customers and communities during this crisis.

“Care homes are critically important – they do incredible work looking after some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and we know this pandemic is putting them under immense pressure. As a gesture of appreciation for the excellent work these businesses are doing, we’re cancelling their energy bills for a couple of months.”

Lindsey Hall Care Home in Cleethorpes, which has 71 elderly and vulnerable residents, is one of Haven Power’s customers selected to receive the free energy.

Joanne Taylor, home manager said:

“Our teams are working very hard in some really challenging circumstances at the moment. Not having to pay our energy bills for two months means we’ve one less thing to worry about and we can also redirect the money we would have spent on energy, to source more PPE, which will help to keep our carers and the people they look after, safe. We really appreciate this kind gesture from Haven Power.”

As well as the support for the 27 care homes in Yorkshire & The Humber, Drax is also donating £150,000 to the Money Advice Trust’s Business Debtline, a national charity helping SMEs facing financial hardship. This is in addition to reduced and deferred payment plans for business customers adversely impacted by the lockdown, and energy rates being frozen for three months for those coming to the end of their contracts and rolling onto a monthly plan.

Will Gardiner added:

“We know a lot of businesses are having a tough time, as the lockdown is having a major impact on many different sectors, so we’ve donated £150,000 to the Money Advice Trust’s Business Debtline. This will help to ensure those businesses who may be struggling to pay their bills can access the advice and support they need.”

Drax’s donation to the Money Advice Trust’s Business Debtline will provide support and free advice to small businesses and self-employed people who are facing financial hardship as a result of Covid-19.

Care homes selected to receive free energy from Drax’s supply businesses, Haven Power and Opus Energy, will receive a letter notifying them that their bills have been cancelled.

Drax owns and operates eight power stations across England and Scotland, as well as two energy supply businesses, Opus Energy and Haven Power, which have offices in the South East and Wales.

ENDS

Media contacts:

Ali Lewis
Drax Group Head of Media & PR
E: [email protected]
T: 07712 670 888

Ben Wicks
Drax Group Media Manager (Customers)
E: [email protected]
T: 07761 525 662

Editor’s Notes

The care homes receiving free power include:

Care home Location
Magdalen Park Hedon
Lindsey Hall Cleethorpes
Beverley Parklands Beverley
Westfield Park Goole
Blantyre House Bridlington
The Old Vicarage Skidby
St Hill Establishments Ltd Selby
Eastfield Residential Home Hull
Linton Woods Linton on Ouse
Wishes Care & Support Kingston Upon Hull
Tancred Hall Care Centre Tancred
Cascade (Stiles House) Ltd 16 homes across the region

The full £636,000 package of measures Drax Group is offering to its communities and customers includes:

  • £250,000 for 853 laptops, each with three months of pre-paid internet access, which supports their learning for the whole summer term, distributed to 45 partner schools and colleges in communities local to Drax’s operations.
  • £236,000 worth of free electricity and gas for 170 selected small care homes which are already supplied with energy by Haven Power and Opus Energy, Drax’s energy supply brands. The selected care homes will have their energy bills cancelled for two months are in communities local to Drax’s operations across England, Scotland and Wales.
  • £150,000 to help SMEs facing financial hardship. The contribution will support a dedicated Business Debtline webpage and phoneline, as well as enhanced training for Drax’s customer service agents to facilitate earlier interventions for SMEs facing financial difficulty.
  • In addition to the support available through the Business Debtline, Drax is offering reduced or deferred payment plans for business customers adversely impacted by the Covid-19 crisis, along with support to manage their account balance including payment holidays.
  • Drax is also temporarily freezing energy rates for three months for any business or organisation which comes to the end of its contract, and automatically rolls onto a monthly plan.

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.

Its 2,900-strong employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production.

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of flexible, low carbon and renewable electricity generation assets across Britain. 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 two thirds of 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.

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.  It also owns and operates four gas power stations in England.

Customers:  

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

Pellet production:

Drax owns and operates three pellet mills in the US South which manufacture compressed wood pellets (biomass) produced from sustainably managed working forests. These pellet mills supply around 20% of the biomass used by Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

For more information visit www.drax.com

Drax to supply free energy to local care homes during COVID-19 crisis

Press releases
Retired Senior Woman Having Health Check With Nurse At Home
  • Energy company Drax Group is supplying more than 170 small care homes in communities local to its operations with free electricity and gas for two months during the Covid-19 crisis
  • The initiative is part of a package of support worth £636,000 Drax Group is providing to its UK customers and communities to help them during the pandemic

All of the care homes selected to receive the free energy are small businesses based in communities local to Drax’s operations across England, Scotland and Wales and are already supplied by Opus Energy and Haven Power – both part of Drax Group.

The company is also donating £150,000 to the Money Advice Trust’s Business Debtline, to help SMEs facing financial hardship. This is in addition to reduced and deferred payment plans to business customers adversely impacted by the lockdown, and energy rates being frozen for three months for those rolling onto a monthly plan after their contracts finish.

Drax Group CEO, Will Gardiner said:

Drax Group CEO Will Gardiner at Drax Power Station.

Drax Group CEO Will Gardiner at Drax Power Station. [Click to view/download].

“We’re working hard to offer more support to our customers and communities during this crisis.

“Care homes are critically important – they do incredible work looking after some of the most vulnerable people in our communities and we know this pandemic is putting them under immense pressure. As a gesture of appreciation for the excellent work these businesses are doing, we’re cancelling their energy bills for a couple of months.

“We know it’s not just care homes – a lot of businesses are having a tough time, as the lockdown is having a major impact on many different sectors, so we’ve donated £150,000 to the Money Advice Trust’s Business Debtline too. This will help to ensure those small businesses who may be struggling to pay their bills can access the advice and support they need.”

Drax’s donation to the Money Advice Trust’s Business Debtline will provide support and free advice to small businesses and self-employed people who are facing financial hardship as a result of Covid-19.

Lindsey Hall Care Home in Cleethorpes, which has 71 elderly and vulnerable residents, is one of Haven Power’s customers selected to receive the free energy.

Joanne Taylor, home manager said:

“Our teams are working very hard in some really challenging circumstances at the moment. Not having to pay our energy bills for two months means we’ve one less thing to worry about and we can also redirect the money we would have spent on energy, to source more PPE, which will help to keep our carers and the people they look after, safe. We really appreciate this kind gesture from Haven Power.”

Care homes selected to receive free energy from Drax’s supply businesses, Haven Power and Opus Energy, will be notified that their bills have been cancelled.

Drax owns and operates 14 power stations across England and Scotland, as well as two energy supply businesses, Opus Energy and Haven Power, which have offices in the South East and Wales.

The care homes selected to receive the free energy are in the following areas local to Drax’s operations:

ENDS

Media contacts:

Ali Lewis
Drax Group Head of Media & PR
E: [email protected]
T: 07712 670 888

Ben Wicks
Drax Group Media Manager (Customers)
E: [email protected]
T: 07761 525 662

Editor’s Notes

The full £636,000 package of measures Drax Group is offering to its communities and customers includes:

  • £250,000 for 853 laptops, each with three months of pre-paid internet access, which supports their learning for the whole summer term, distributed to 45 partner schools and colleges in communities local to Drax’s operations.
  • £236,000 worth of free electricity and gas for 170 selected small care homes which are already supplied with energy by Haven Power and Opus Energy, Drax’s energy supply businesses. The selected care homes are in communities local to Drax’s operations across England, Scotland and Wales will have their energy bills cancelled for two months.
  • £150,000 to help SMEs facing financial hardship. The contribution will support a dedicated Business Debtline webpage and phoneline, as well as enhanced training for Drax’s customer service agents to facilitate earlier interventions for SMEs facing financial difficulty.
  • In addition to the support available through the Business Debtline, Drax is offering reduced or deferred payment plans for business customers adversely impacted by the Covid-19 crisis, along with support to manage their account balance including payment holidays.
  • Drax is also temporarily freezing energy rates for three months for any business or organisation which comes to the end of its contract, and automatically rolls onto a monthly plan.

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.

Its 2,900-strong employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production.

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of flexible, low carbon and renewable electricity generation assets across Britain. 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 two thirds of 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.

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.  It also owns and operates four gas power stations in England.

Customers:

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

Pellet production:

Drax owns and operates three pellet mills in the US South which manufacture compressed wood pellets (biomass) produced from sustainably managed working forests. These pellet mills supply around 20% of the biomass used by Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

For more information visit www.drax.com

Drax launches new biomass carbon calculator that will enable industry to cut emissions from supply chain

1 May 2020

Press releases
Biomass train enters Rail Unloading Building 2 at Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire

Drax is seeking views from a wide range of experts, including academics, non-governmental organisations and the biomass for energy industry in a consultation on the Biomass Carbon Calculator to ensure that the methodology is as accurate and transparent as possible so it is more effective.

Drax Group’s head of climate change, Rebecca Heaton said:

“Drax announced a world-leading ambition to become carbon negative by 2030 by pioneering the groundbreaking negative emissions technology, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS).

“As part of this commitment to support the UK’s net zero target, Drax is also ensuring that the supply chain for the sustainable biomass pellets we use to generate renewable electricity is as low carbon as possible.

Sawmill residues used to manufacture sustainable biomass wood pellets at LaSalle BioEnergy in Louisiana.

Sawmill residues used to manufacture sustainable biomass wood pellets at LaSalle BioEnergy in Louisiana [Click to view/download]

“To do that, it’s vital that Drax and the rest of the biomass industry has the clearest picture possible of emissions in the production and transportation of the pellets, by using actual supply chain data to help raise the quality of carbon accounting for biomass.

“That’s why we’re calling on academics, scientists, regulators and non-governmental organisations, as well as those in the biomass industry, to participate in the consultation to help further improve the modelling for this new calculator and create a higher industry standard for emissions reporting.”

Drax’s Biomass Carbon Calculator has already been independently reviewed against the greenhouse gas calculation methodology laid out in the Renewable Obligation, one of the main support mechanisms for large-scale renewable electricity projects in the UK, which has helped the country to decarbonise faster than any other in the world. This independent review also verified the calculator for compliance with the EU’s Renewable Energy Directive II.

Sustainable biomass wood pellets being safely loaded at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge onto a vessel destined for Drax Power Station

Sustainable biomass wood pellets being safely loaded at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge onto a vessel destined for Drax Power Station [Click to view/download]

Following the six-week consultation, Drax will undertake further third-party verification to ensure the new calculator remains in compliance with regulatory requirements.

The creation of the Biomass Carbon Calculator is one of a number of initiatives Drax is taking to develop world-leading policies and tools to create greater clarity and transparency across the biomass industry.

It follows the creation of an Independent Advisory Board of scientists, academics and forestry experts, led by Sir John Beddington formerly the chief scientific adviser to the UK government, to ensure Drax’s biomass sourcing is in line with latest scientific research and best practice. It has found Drax’s sourcing policies are in line with the Forest Research report, which is widely considered to be the industry gold standard.

ENDS

Media contacts:

Ali Lewis
Drax Group Head of Media & PR
E: [email protected]
T: 07712 670 888

Selina Williams
Drax Group Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: 07912 230 393

Editor’s Notes

  • The consultation runs from May 1 to June 12
  • The calculator allows users to view all equations performed for calculating supply chain GHG emissions.
  • The calculator is designed to comply with the Greenhouse Gas reporting requirements of the UK Renewables Obligation and the EU Renewable Energy Directive.
  • These regulations require that biomass is considered as carbon neutral for Greenhouse Gas reporting purposes and that the CO2 emitted at the stack is balanced by the CO2 captured at forest level.
  • Drax is the largest renewable power generator in the UK – generating 12% of the country’s renewable electricity using biomass.
  • Drax’s biomass delivers carbon savings of more than 80% compared to coal – this includes emissions from our supply chain.
  • The use of biomass has transformed Drax to become the largest decarbonisation project in Europe.
  • It’s a low-carbon supply chain – Drax monitors and reports all emissions, which are independently audited. The biomass for energy industry is the only sector that does this.
  • The carbon emissions from shipping across the Atlantic are lower than road haulage from Scotland and are accounted for in the more than 85% carbon savings reported across Drax Group since 2012.
  • Main pic caption: Biomass train enters Rail Unloading Building 2 at Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire [view/download]

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.

Its 2,900-strong employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production.

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of flexible, low carbon and renewable electricity generation assets across Britain. 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 two thirds of 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.

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.  It also owns and operates four gas power stations in England.

Customers:  

Drax owns two B2B energy supply businesses:

  • Haven Power, based in Ipswich, supplies electricity and energy services to large Industrial and Commercial sector businesses.
  • Opus Energy, based in Oxford, Northampton and Cardiff, provides electricity, energy services and gas to small and medium sized (SME) businesses.

Pellet production:

Drax owns and operates three pellet mills in the US South which manufacture compressed wood pellets (biomass) produced from sustainably managed working forests. These pellet mills supply around 20% of the biomass used by Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

For more information visit www.drax.com 

Drax delivers laptops for learners to keep schools and students connected during COVID-19 crisis

29 April 2020

Press releases
Drax laptops and dongles arrive in Dumfries and Galloway.
  • Energy company Drax is delivering laptops with prepaid internet access to schools and colleges local to its operations across Britain, to ensure students can continue with their studies during the Covid-19 crisis.
  • Five schools and Dumfries & Galloway college and will receive 72 of the Drax HP Chromebook laptops with pre-paid dongles.

With schools and colleges closed, many children whose families do not own a computer are finding it difficult to access learning resources.

To ensure no child is left behind, Drax has invested £250,000 in a total of 853 new laptops and each one has three months of pre-paid internet access via a 30GB dongle to support their learning over the summer term. 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 during the lockdown.

Will Gardiner, Drax Group CEO, said:

“We’re very happy to help people in our communities by providing our partner schools with the technology they need to get more students connected online so they can keep learning during the Covid-19 crisis and beyond.”

Laptops have been provided to six schools and a college in Dumfries and Galloway, including:

  • Dumfries & Galloway College
  • Gelston Primary School
  • Castle Douglas Primary School
  • Kirkcudbright Primary School
  • Dalry & Kells Primary School
  • Crossmichael Primary School
  • Heathall Primary School

Kenny Jardine from Dumfries and Galloway Council’s education department collects the laptops.

Billy Currie, head of corporate services at Dumfries & Galloway College, said:

“This donation of laptops from Drax is going to make a huge difference to the lives of students currently without access to online educational resources – as well as our whole college community after the Coronavirus lockdown is over.

“Ensuring no-one gets left behind in their studies during the lockdown is a priority for us, but schools and colleges don’t just provide education – they’re a whole support system. Having computers and internet access means pupils can keep in touch with their teachers and fellow students more easily too – which is also incredibly important at the moment.”

McNabb Laurie, Team Leader of the Galloway Glens Scheme, which has been assisting in the local distribution of the equipment, said:

“The donation of laptops and internet access is hugely welcome and is just one example of how Drax continues to play an important role in supporting our communities and helping our young people reach their full potential.

“Education is essential, and these laptops will help children across Dumfries and Galloway to keep up with their studies and stay connected to their friends while we all stay apart”.

ENDS

Top image caption: Drax laptops and dongles arrive in Dumfries and Galloway.

Media contacts:

Aidan Kerr
Drax Group Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: 07849 090 368

Editor’s Notes

  • Drax is a founding member of the C-19 Business Pledge, a national scheme which encourages employers to join the coronavirus effort by pledging to help their employees, customers and communities to get through the crisis.
  • The 853 laptops and dongles will be delivered to Drax’s partner schools and colleges local to its operations. Head teachers will then distribute the technology to pupils identified as requiring support.

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.

Its 2,900-strong employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production.

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of flexible, low carbon and renewable electricity generation assets across Britain. 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 two thirds of 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.

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.  It also owns and operates four gas power stations in England.

Customers:  

Drax owns two B2B energy supply businesses:

  • Haven Power, based in Ipswich, supplies electricity and energy services to large Industrial and Commercial sector businesses.
  • Opus Energy, based in Oxford, Northampton and Cardiff, provides electricity, energy services and gas to small and medium sized (SME) businesses.

Pellet production:

Drax owns and operates three pellet mills in the US South which manufacture compressed wood pellets (biomass) produced from sustainably managed working forests. These pellet mills supply around 20% of the biomass used by Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

For more information visit www.drax.com

Drax delivers laptops for learners to keep schools and students connected during COVID-19 crisis

28 April 2020

Press releases
For ref: An electric motor cab and driver, London, c1897-c1900. Artist: York & Son.
  • Energy company Drax is delivering laptops with prepaid internet access to schools and colleges local to its operations across Britain, to ensure students can continue with their studies during the Covid-19 crisis.
  • Eighteen schools, a college and a service to support young people leaving care in Yorkshire will receive 452 of the Drax HP Chromebook laptops with pre-paid dongles.

The Robinson family collect their laptop. Lacey is pictured holding the laptop watched by Mum Natalie and brothers Archie (yellow and black top) and Levi.

With schools and colleges closed, many children whose families do not own a computer are finding it difficult to access learning resources.

To ensure no child is left behind, Drax has invested £250,000 in 853 new laptops and each one has three months of pre-paid internet access via a 30GB dongle to support their learning over the summer term. 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 during the lockdown.

Will Gardiner, Drax Group CEO, said:

“We’re very happy to help people in our communities by providing our partner schools with the technology they need to get more students connected online so they can keep learning during the Covid-19 crisis and beyond.”

Laptops have so far been donated to five schools and a college in Selby and Ainsty near Drax Power Station including:

  • Selby High School
  • Barwic Parade Primary
  • Camblesforth Primary
  • Selby Abbey Primary
  • Selby Community Primary
  • Selby College

Ian Clennan, Head Teacher of Selby Community Primary School, school, said:

“This donation of laptops from Drax is going to make a huge difference to the lives of pupils currently without access to online educational resources – as well as our whole school community after the Coronavirus lockdown is over.

Ian Clennan holding some of the laptops donated by Drax.

“Ensuring no-one gets left behind in their studies during the lockdown is a priority for us, but schools don’t just provide education – they’re a whole support system. Having computers and internet access means pupils can keep in touch with their teachers and classmates more easily too – which is also incredibly important at the moment.”

Nigel Adams MP for Selby and Ainsty, said:

“The donation of 292 laptops and internet access is very welcome and is just one example of how Drax play an important role in supporting our communities and helping our young people reach their full potential.

“Education is essential, and the laptops means that 292 children will be able to keep up with their studies while schools are closed but also afterwards when there is wealth of learning available to them on-line via the new laptops”.

A total of eighteen schools, a college and a service to support young people leaving care in the communities of Selby, Snaith, Goole, Doncaster, Grimsby and Scunthorpe are receiving laptops from Drax including:

  • Selby College
  • Selby High School
  • Barwic Parade Primary
  • Camblesforth Primary
  • Selby Abbey Primary
  • Selby Community Primary
  • Snaith secondary
  • Goole secondary
  • Campsmount Academy
  • East Yorkshire Children’s care leavers service

ENDS

Top image caption: Head Teacher Ian Clennan giving Lacey her laptop.

Media contacts:

Aidan Kerr
Drax Group Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: 07849 090 368

Editor’s Notes

  • Drax is a founding member of the C-19 Business Pledge, a national scheme which encourages employers to join the coronavirus effort by pledging to help their employees, customers and communities to get through the crisis.
  • The 853 laptops and dongles will be delivered to Drax’s partner schools and colleges local to its operations. Head teachers will then distribute the technology to pupils identified as requiring support.

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.

Its 2,900-strong employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production.

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of flexible, low carbon and renewable electricity generation assets across Britain. 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 two thirds of 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.

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.  It also owns and operates four gas power stations in England.

Customers:  

Drax owns two B2B energy supply businesses:

  • Haven Power, based in Ipswich, supplies electricity and energy services to large Industrial and Commercial sector businesses.
  • Opus Energy, based in Oxford, Northampton and Cardiff, provides electricity, energy services and gas to small and medium sized (SME) businesses.

Pellet production:

Drax owns and operates three pellet mills in the US South which manufacture compressed wood pellets (biomass) produced from sustainably managed working forests. These pellet mills supply around 20% of the biomass used by Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

For more information visit www.drax.com

Drax delivers laptops for learners during COVID-19 crisis

21 April 2020

Press releases
Portrait of a student learning on line with headphones and laptop taking notes in a notebook sitting at her desk at home

Drax Group is delivering hundreds of laptops with internet access to schools and colleges local to its operations across Britain, to ensure students can continue with their studies during the Covid-19 crisis.

As the pandemic continues to have a major impact on families and communities across the UK, the energy company which owns the UK’s largest power station, is rolling out a package of measures to support people in its communities.

It has been working with headteachers at its partner schools to source and provide families with laptops and prepaid internet access so children without a computer at home can connect and continue with their studies during the lockdown.

Drax Group CEO Will Gardiner

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

Will Gardiner, Drax Group CEO, said:

“At Drax we’ve been working with headteachers during the Easter break to make sure that students have access to laptops as they start the summer term. This is crucial, as highlighted by the Government this weekend.

“We’re delivering nearly 700 laptops with internet access to the students who need them most. The pandemic continues to have a major impact on families, businesses and communities across the UK – our support for students means we’re helping to get them connected so they can keep learning during the lockdown.”

As part of its initiative to inspire more children to study STEM (Science Technology Engineering and Maths) subjects, Drax has been working with partner schools local to its operations for some time, delivering a range of projects and careers events.

This latest project has seen the energy company invest £200,000 in the laptops with prepaid internet access, delivered for the summer term to partner schools in its local communities across England and Scotland.

The schools will distribute the technology to families to help ensure no child is left behind during lockdown.

Ian Clennan, Head Teacher of Selby Community Primary School in North Yorkshire, which will be receiving some of the equipment, said:

Ian Clennan, Head Teacher of Selby Community Primary School

“This donation of laptops from Drax is going to make a huge difference to the lives of pupils currently without access to online educational resources – as well as our whole school community after the Coronavirus lockdown is over.

“Ensuring no-one gets left behind in their studies during the lockdown is a priority for us, but schools don’t just provide education – they’re a whole support system. Having computers and internet access means pupils can keep in touch with their teachers and classmates more easily too – which is also incredibly important at the moment.”

Russell Hobby, CEO of Teach First

Russell Hobby, CEO of Teach First, a leading charity which aims to address disadvantages in education, added:

“Home schooling is difficult for any family, but for children with limited access to a laptop or the internet – the barriers to studying are even greater. This generous donation by Drax will help hundreds of children to continue to learn during the crisis and have a positive impact on their life chances, as well as the communities in which they live.”

As part of the UK’s critical national infrastructure, Drax has taken unprecedented measures to protect its staff during the Covid-19 crisis and maintain a reliable and stable supply of electricity to millions of homes and businesses across the UK.

Just last week, engineers at Drax Power Station, near Selby in North Yorkshire – the UK’s largest power station – installed blue lighting on one of the 114m tall cooling towers in appreciation of the NHS as part of the ‘Clap for Carers’ initiative.

ENDS

Media contacts:

Ali Lewis
Drax Group Head of Media & PR
E: [email protected]
T: 07712 670 888

Aidan Kerr
Drax Group Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: 07849 090 368

Editor’s Notes

  • The 682 laptops and prepaid dongles giving three months of prepaid internet access will be delivered to Drax’s partner primary schools, secondary schools and colleges local to its operations, as well as children leaving care. Head teachers will then distribute the technology to pupils identified as requiring support.
  • The schools in receipt of the laptops are located in: Selby, Goole, Doncaster, Ipswich, Northampton and Shoreham in England. Dumfries, Castle Douglas and Oban in Scotland.
  • Drax is a founding member of Rt Hon Justine Greening’s C-19 Business Pledge, a national scheme which encourages employers to join the coronavirus effort by pledging to help their employees, customers and communities to get through the crisis.
  • Drax has created a suite of online educational resource for parents, teachers and students to support the curriculum as students start another term in lockdown. This includes a comprehensive package of CV support and virtual careers advice for students in Year 10.
  • Photos via Adobe Stock. They can be licensed for media use here and here.

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future. Its 2,900-strong employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production.

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of flexible, low carbon and renewable electricity generation assets across Britain. 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 two thirds of 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.

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.  It also owns and operates four gas power stations in England.

Customers:  

Drax owns two B2B energy supply businesses:

  • Haven Power, based in Ipswich, supplies electricity and energy services to large Industrial and Commercial sector businesses.
  • Opus Energy, based in Oxford, Northampton and Cardiff, provides electricity, energy services and gas to small and medium sized (SME) businesses.

Pellet production:

Drax owns and operates three pellet mills in the US South which manufacture compressed wood pellets (biomass) produced from sustainably managed working forests. These pellet mills supply around 20% of the biomass used by Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

For more information visit www.drax.com

Keeping the lights on: Network Rail reopens a vital British freight line after major repair operation

20 April 2020

Press releases
Train carrying sustainable biomass wood pellets arriving at Drax Power Station
  • Link to Drax Power Station kept open with 24-hour-a-day monitoring after huge flooding damage
  • Divers, drones and helicopters deployed to monitor the route since February
  • Over 90 trains per week still able to use route whilst repairs carried out

The line into Drax Power Station was inundated with flood water in February when the nearby River Aire burst its banks.

With the Selby plant supplying 5% of the UK’s electricity, it was vital to keep services moving during the Covid-19 crisis while repair work was carried out. Engineers have been deployed on 24-hour-a-day shifts to maintain the constant safety reassurance required to keep freight trains running.

Chris Gee, Head of Operations for Network Rail’s North and East Route, said:

“This was an unprecedented operation to deal with an unprecedented situation.

“It’s never been more important for us to keep freight services running, so we pulled out all the stops to maintain this vital link while we conducted repair work at the same time.

“Our teams have worked non-stop to make sure that crucial deliveries of sustainable biomass have been able to run despite severe flooding, which has been incredibly important to keep the nation powered up.

“This has been a real team effort and shows the dedication of the rail industry to vital services moving during this national crisis.”

One of two lines leading in and out of Drax Power Station in Selby, Yorkshire, had to close in February when water from the nearby River Aire flooded the area. But engineers were able to keep one route open to allow vital freight services transporting sustainable biomass to keep the nation powered up during the Covid-19 pandemic.

Image showing the February floods affecting the railway line leading to Drax Power Station

The damaged line has now reopened following significant repair work by Network Rail. Deliveries were maintained while the work took place, with over 90 freight trains a week transporting biomass to the plant.

This was made possible by the rail industry working together and the dedication of Network Rail, and their contractors CML, who took up shifts 24 hours a day to keep watch of the site and make sure that trains could use the line safely. A crucial job was monitoring the railway embankment for any further movement following the damage caused by floods.

The emergency repair work cost £300,000 and included unconventional methods to make sure that the line could reopen as quickly as possible. This included using a team of divers to inspect structures which were underwater to check for damage, as well as flying drones and helicopters along the route to assess the extent of the damage.

Significant repair work to the track needed to take place before it could reopen, such as replacing ballast, the stones, which support the track, after sections of it were washed away by flood water.

The team faced an additional challenge when they discovered that several Koi Carp from a nearby private residence were on the railway, when the pond they were in also flooded. Network Rail teams worked closely with the landowner to safely transport them home.

Keeping freight services moving is of vital importance during the Covid-19 crisis, with the transportation of sustainable biomass helping to keep the lights on across the country. Network Rail is working on ways to improve resilience on the line, in a £2.5million investment, and are currently in the design stage of this project.

Rail Minister Chris Heaton-Harris said:

“Freight plays a vital role in ensuring critical food and supplies can continue moving smoothly at this challenging time. It is fantastic news that this important line has reopened, and once again I want to thank frontline staff for their efforts.”

Nigel Adams MP said:

“The flooding in February showed how important it is to respond immediately to flooding events when roads are closed, homes flooded and in this case the railway line delivering biomass fuel to Drax Power station was seriously damaged.

“Fortunately, Drax Power station was able to continue to generate electricity because Network Rail responded immediately by introducing emergency operational procedures. I am delighted that Network Rail have now completed the repair of the embankment and the line is back to two tracks working.”

Drax CEO Will Gardiner said:

“The teams who worked tirelessly at Network Rail, on the UK rail freight system and at Drax to ensure deliveries of sustainable biomass were maintained throughout the repair work, so we can continue to generate the power the country needs during the Covid-19 crisis, have done a tremendous job.

“The health, safety and wellbeing of these teams are vital and we have implemented strategies to reduce the chances of spreading the virus.”

“These rail deliveries are a critical part of our global supply chain for sustainable biomass that supports thousands of jobs and has delivered economic growth across the north of England, while supplying renewable electricity to millions of homes and businesses.”

John Smith, GB Railfreight Managing Director said:

“Huge credit to Network Rail and their contractor, CML, who have carried out the repairs so quickly whilst also managing to keep the railway partially open in the meantime.

“The efforts applied demonstrate again the importance of rail freight during these trying times in keeping the lights on and food on the tables. GBRf is committed to continuing and re-doubling its efforts to ensure that freight continues to move around the country during these unprecedented times.”

DB Cargo UK’s Head of Sales Roger Neary said:

“DB Cargo has been working closely with both Drax and Network Rail. The communication and collaboration by all parties has been brilliant ensured a seamless supply of material to the power station.

“During the COVID 19 pandemic, we continue to work with Drax Power Station to provide essential biomass fuel by rail from Immingham. DB Cargo UK delivers on average 65 trains per week, around 4,500 tonnes, of biomass which Drax uses to supply the UK power network. It’s great to be able to play a part in keeping the UK running during these difficult times.”

ENDS

Media contacts: 

Drax

Selina Williams 
Drax Group Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: 07912 230 393

Network Rail press office

Amy Brenndorfer
Media Relations Manager
E: [email protected]
T: 01904 383 180
T: 07730 359 569

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.

Its 2,900-strong employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production.

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of flexible, low carbon and renewable electricity generation assets across Britain. 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 two thirds of 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.

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.  It also owns and operates four gas power stations in England. 

Customers:  

Drax owns two B2B energy supply businesses:

Haven Power, based in Ipswich, supplies electricity and energy services to large Industrial and Commercial sector businesses.

Opus Energy, based in Oxford, Northampton and Cardiff, provides electricity, energy services and gas to small and medium sized (SME) businesses.

Pellet production:

Drax owns and operates three pellet mills in the US South which manufacture compressed wood pellets (biomass) produced from sustainably managed working forests. These pellet mills supply around 20% of the biomass used by Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

For more information visit www.drax.com

About Network Rail

We own, operate and develop Britain’s railway infrastructure; that’s 20,000 miles of track, 30,000 bridges, tunnels and viaducts and the thousands of signals, level crossings and stations. We run 20 of Britain’s largest stations while all the others, over 2,500, are run by the country’s train operating companies.

Every day, there are almost five million journeys made in Britain and over 600 freight trains run on the network. People depend on Britain’s railway for their daily commute, to visit friends and loved ones and to get them home safe every day.

Our role is to deliver a safe and reliable railway, so we carefully manage and deliver thousands of projects every year that form part of the multi-billion pound Railway Upgrade Plan, to grow and expand the nation’s railway network to respond to the tremendous growth and demand the railway has experienced – a doubling of passenger journeys over the past 20 years.

Visit our online newsroom: www.networkrailmediacentre.co.uk

Drax workers’ blue light support for NHS

16 April 2020

Press releases
Drax Power Station cooling tower turned blue for the NHS and #ClapForCarers with biomass storage domes on left

Engineers at Drax Power Station, near Selby in North Yorkshire, have installed blue lighting on one of the 12, 114m tall cooling towers at the 1,850-acre site, in honour of the NHS.

Michael Davies a section head in the maintenance team at Drax Power Station, who led a team of engineers from Drax, EMI and Yess Electrical to install the blue lights, said:

Michael Davies, Section Head, maintenance team, Drax Power Station, who led a team of engineers from Drax and EMI to install the blue lights

Michael Davies, Section Head, maintenance team, Drax Power Station, who led a team of engineers from Drax and EMI to install the blue lights

“We all know how vitally important the NHS is right now and we’re in awe of what the teams there are doing. Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week these people are putting themselves in harm’s way to protect us and look after those worst affected by this disease.

“Lighting up one of our cooling towers is our signal to those working in the NHS to let them know we appreciate what they’re doing. We know they must be working incredibly hard in very difficult circumstances and we fully support them.”

Drax Power Station has the capacity to generate enough electricity for up to six million households. Measures have been put in place to ensure its employees can work safely and continue operating this critical national infrastructure.

Employees from across Drax’s UK businesses, including power stations located across Britain, as well as energy supply businesses Opus Energy and Haven Power, have shown their appreciation for the NHS in their own ‘Clap for Carers’ video too.

Drax Power Station cooling tower turned blue for the NHS and #ClapForCarers

Drax Power Station cooling tower turned blue for the NHS and #ClapForCarers

Picture captions:

  • Pics 1 and 2: Drax Power Station’s blue cooling tower lit up during a trial run last night (Wednesday April 15) ahead of its official switch-on during the ‘Clap for Carers’ at 8pm today (Thursday April 16, 2020).
  • Pic 3: Michael Davies, maintenance team section head at Drax Power Station, who led the work to install the blue lights.

Video Link: Footage of the cooling tower being lit up in ‘NHS blue’ from last night’s trial run is available if you would like to use it via the links provided here.

ENDS

Media contacts:

Ali Lewis
Drax Group Head of Media & PR
E: [email protected]
T: 07712 670 888

Aidan Kerr
Drax Group Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: 07849 090 368

Editor’s Notes

Cooling tower facts:

  • Each of the 12 cooling towers at Drax are 114m tall and 93m in diameter at the base.
  • You could fit the Statue of Liberty inside each one.
  • The dimensions of the cooling towers are such that if they were scaled down to be the size of an egg, the thickness of the cooling tower walls would be the same as an eggshell – so whilst the walls could be viewed as being quite delicate, the hyperboloid shape of the cooling towers gives them strength to withstand harsh weather conditions. The ones at Drax date from almost 50 years ago when the first half of the power station was built and came into operation in 1974.
  • A common misconception is that the cooling towers release smoke – this is not true, it’s actually steam, or water vapour which can be seen rising from them.
  • Power stations use a lot of water. Drax’s 12 cooling towers draw 160 million litres of water each day from the River Ouse.
  • The power station works by using boilers to heat water and make high pressure steam, which is used to spin turbines and generate electricity. The steam is then cooled inside the cooling towers and the water is returned to the boiler to be heated again.

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future. Its 2,900-strong employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production.

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of flexible, low carbon and renewable electricity generation assets across Britain. 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 two thirds of 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.

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.  It also owns and operates four gas power stations in England.

Customers:  

Drax owns two B2B energy supply businesses:

  • Haven Power, based in Ipswich, supplies electricity and energy services to large Industrial and Commercial sector businesses.
  • Opus Energy, based in Oxford, Northampton and Cardiff, provides electricity, energy services and gas to small and medium sized (SME) businesses.

Pellet production:

Drax owns and operates three pellet mills in the US South which manufacture compressed wood pellets (biomass) produced from sustainably managed working forests. These pellet mills supply around 20% of the biomass used by Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

For more information visit www.drax.com