Drax – 50 years of moving forward

Drax Power Station has been keeping the UK’s lights on for 50 years. It is the largest power station in the country, capable of providing power for 5 million homes, and playing a crucial role in ensuring the UK’s energy security.

Later this decade, the power station is hoping to transition from sustainable biomass generation to bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) enabling it to continue to generate power for millions of homes and, with the right support, help the UK avoid an energy security ‘crunch point’ in 2028.

Drax’s ambition for BECCS goes beyond the UK and Yorkshire. The company has bold plans to become a global leader in the technology, capitalising on what McKinsey predicts could be a $1.2 trillion industry by 2050.

Earlier this year Drax announced plans for a new, US-based business to oversee its global expansion plans. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the business will oversee the development and construction of new-build BECCS plants in the US and internationally. It will work with a coalition of strategic partners to focus on an ambitious goal of removing at least 6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide per year from the atmosphere.

Drax Power Station has been keeping the lights on for 50 years and could be set to for another 50 with the cutting-edge carbon removal technology: BECCS.

Since producing its first watt of power, Drax Power Station has successfully transformed from Western Europe’s largest coal-fired power station into the UK’s single-largest generator of renewable electricity from sustainable biomass.

We’re now preparing for our next chapter as we aim to become a global leader in carbon removals. We are currently progressing plans to deliver BECCS by 2030, with projects able to permanently remove a volume of c.7 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year. Plus, we have plans to expand our existing pumped storage hydro plant at Cruachan, which will more than double its electricity generating capacity.

Our exciting plans will ensure we support global decarbonisation, protect energy security and build new jobs and skills for another 50 years and beyond – all while continuing to support the communities we operate in.

To celebrate our 50th anniversary, we’re planning a series of upcoming events and features, including a competition, a rail event, a special projection on one of our cooling towers at Drax Power Station and more. Check social media for regular updates on our activities.

Our golden rail wagon crosses Yorkshire’s iconic Ribblehead Viaduct – read more. 

Drax Power Station rail event raises £30,000 for children’s hospice – learn more.

We launched a new Ultrabulk ship, the ‘Ultra Yorkshire’, at a ceremony in Japan – find out more.

A special photo exhibition features photography from the past 50 years of Drax Power Station – read more.

We hosted an afternoon tea at Drax Power Station for around 30 former colleagues from our formative years – an opportunity to catch up and reminisce with friends and former colleagues they’d not seen in many years.