Archives: Press Release

Drax Bolsters Support for STEM Education, Local Community Giving with Launch of New Foundation

1 March 2023

News

Drax, the world’s leading producer and user of sustainable biomass energy, today launched the Drax Foundation to significantly boost grant funding for non-profit organizations and social enterprises in the U.S., U.K., and Canada. The Foundation is a key part of Drax’s community support strategy, which is focused on ensuring the business delivers a positive impact in the communities where it operates.

“Launching the Drax Foundation is the start of an exciting new chapter in how we deliver positive social impact. Our ambition is to better support diverse organizations working hard to create the next generation of science and technology leaders, students and those working to make our communities greener and better places to live,” said Will Gardiner, CEO of Drax.

The Drax Foundation will fund initiatives supporting education and skills development in Science Technology Engineering and Math (STEM), as well as those that improve green spaces and enhance biodiversity within local communities. Funding will be available for organizations ranging from smaller community-led projects to larger grants of up to $60,000 for established non-profit organizations.

“We are passionate about giving back to the communities we work in and are proud of our past philanthropic work,” said Gardiner. “Alongside the new Foundation, and as part of our new community strategy, we are also going to be funding energy efficiency measures for community organizations in the UK, supporting foodbanks around the world and expanding our Communities in Crisis Fund. Combined this is a step change in the support we deliver for people, nature and the climate.”

The Drax Foundation represents a new approach to the company’s investment in communities and will provide a long-term platform to support local organizations as the company grows.

Organizations and initiatives that meet Drax’s funding and selection criteria are encouraged to visit https://www.drax.com/us/about-us/our-communities/ to learn more about the Foundation and email [email protected] to submit an initial expression of interest.

Media Contact:

Alex Schott
VP, Head of North America Communications
[email protected]
(318) 372-4091

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.

Drax’s around 3,000 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. For more information visit www.drax.com/us

Pellet production and supply:

The Group has 18 operational pellet plants and developments with nameplate production capacity of around 5 million tons a year.

Drax is targeting 8 million tons of production capacity by 2030, which will require the development of over 3 million tons of new biomass pellet production capacity. 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 plants supply biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses, and also to customers in Europe and Asia.

Drax Announces Partnership with Federation of Southern Cooperatives to Drive Equal Access to Forest Management Opportunities for Minority and Underserved Small Landowners

14 February 2023

News

Drax, the world’s leading producer and user of sustainable biomass, has announced a new partnership with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives that will help minority and underserved small landowners in the U.S. South with greater access to the biomass market, further encouraging sustainable forestry management.

The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund is a 55-year-old regional cooperative and rural economic development organization that serves a membership of Black farmers, landowners and cooperatives, with co-op development, land retention and advocacy. Through a jointly committed Memorandum of Cooperation with Drax, the two will work together to enhance outreach, education, market access and community engagement in the region’s forestry supply chain.

The partnership includes a commitment to develop a shared understanding of what environmental justice means for small forest owners and the biomass industry. This includes building a program of work that creates greater access to a fiber market that has historically been dominated by larger landowners and previously excluded African American landowners.

“This partnership with Drax will help us further in our goals to tackle historic land rights issues by empowering these smaller forest landowners with training and resources which will enable them to access the forest markets,” said Freddie Davis III, Director of The Federation of Southern Cooperatives Rural Training and Research Center.

“Access to forest markets is critical in a landowners’ ability to manage their forests sustainably. It benefits the broader forest products industry and helps support jobs, opportunities and economic benefits in our communities. It also helps keep forests as forests – benefiting carbon stocks and biodiversity,” said Davis.

Biomass plays a critical role in the sustainable management of forests in the U.S. by providing a reliable source of income that incentivizes smaller landowners to maintain their forest land and encourages them to adopt good forest stewardship principles.

“Drax is committed to supporting the communities where we operate, and this partnership with the Federation of Southern Cooperatives is an important step in helping owners of smaller areas of land to benefit financially from the biomass industry while also stimulating sustainable forestry management across the U.S.,” said Will Gardiner, CEO of Drax.

“This will benefit many small farmers, suppliers and related businesses and help pave the way toward redressing the balance and advancing equity in the forest products industry in the U.S. South,” said Gardiner.

The nature of the vast and abundant forestry resources in the U.S. South has encouraged economies of scale which have disadvantaged many small forest landowners, such as those represented by the Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund.

Contact Information:

Alex Schott
VP, North America Communications
318-372-4091
[email protected]

Notes:

  • Through the partnership, Drax will support the Federation’s initiatives to provide education, training and internships related to forestry management and related opportunities in the pellet industry.
  • It will also work to increase procurement of fiber from small and historically underserved landowners where possible.
  • The agreement recognizes that sustainably managed family forests are key to carbon storage and biodiversity, and that it is important to find ways for even the smallest of landowners to access the fiber market, and the positive benefits this could bring.
  • The biomass market provides an outlet for low-value wood and waste products from the timber industry such as treetops, limbs, damaged wood and sawmill residues such as sawdust and woodchips.
  • It also allows forest owners to sell thinnings – smaller trees removed to maximise the health and growth of the remaining trees in a working forest.
  • The income from thinnings can help pay for some of the investments and annual costs landowners lay out in planting, growing and maintaining forests, providing an additional incentive to keep forests as forests and prevent land from being converted to other uses.
  • According to U.S. Forestry Service data, annual wood growth has doubled in the forests in the U.S. South since the 1950s, increasing the amount of carbon stored.

Photo caption:

Forest Intern Xavier Sherman, Forester Corey Bacon, Forester Freddie Davis, and Forester Darren Beachem (with the Drax Team).

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.

Drax’s around 3,000 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. For more information visit https://www.drax.com/us

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 decarbonization project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilization 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.

The Group also aims to build on its BECCS innovation at Drax Power Station with a target to deliver four million tons of negative CO2 emissions each year from new-build BECCS outside of the UK by 2030 and is currently developing models for North American and European markets.

Pellet production and supply:

The Group has 19 operational pellet plants and developments with nameplate production capacity of around five million tons a year.

Drax is targeting eight million tons of production capacity by 2030, which will require the development of over three million tons of new biomass pellet production capacity. 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 plants supply biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses, and also to customers in Europe and Asia.

About The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund

The Federation of Southern Cooperatives/Land Assistance Fund is a 56-year-old regional cooperative and rural economic development organization serving a membership of Black farmers, landowners, cooperatives, and other low-income rural people in the South with coop development, land retention, and advocacy.

The Federation was born out of the Civil Rights movement and exists to save Black-owned farms and land.

We strive toward the development of self-supporting communities with programs that increase income and enhance other opportunities; and we strive to assist in land retention and development, especially for African Americans, but essentially for all family farmers.

Our charter is held in Washington, DC, and we assist members in the following states: Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Mississippi, Missouri, North Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Tennessee, Texas, Virginia, and West Virginia.

Global Literacy Program Expands in Morehouse Parish Through Drax Sponsorship

10 February 2023

News

The “Pen Friends” program is part of United Way’s ‘READ. LEARN. SUCCEED.’ initiative that aims to improve children’s literacy and increase social mobility. The program, championed by Drax, was introduced last school year at Delta and Morehouse Elementary Schools. It offers second and third grade students the opportunity to exchange letters with volunteers  to practice their reading and writing.

Drax recently sponsored the expansion of the program to include over 100 students in Morehouse Parish, making it possible for students to correspond with volunteers from Drax’s operations in the U.S. as well as thousands of miles away in the UK and Canada.

“I was keen to join the ‘Pen Friends’ program having heard about it from my colleagues in the U.S. – it’s such a worthwhile initiative to help and encourage children with their literacy skills and support the communities where we live and work,” said UK-based Kendra Jackson, Drax Internal Communications Business Partner. “My first letter has been sent and I’m looking forward to hearing from my ‘Pen Friend’ to learn more about her – hopefully I can pass on my love of reading, even in a small way!”

Each month, participating students receive a letter and a packet filled with books, activities, and other educational tools to aid in their learning.

“I’m really enjoying the experience of being a ‘Pen Friend’ as it means a lot to be able to help young people with their education and learning,” said Canada-based Alan Verbeke, Drax Health & Safety Manager. “I’m looking forward to learning about my Pen Friend’s life and goals, and I hope the program helps them have even more fun at school.”

Drax has supported educational programs in Louisiana through donations that helped communities impacted by natural disasters and COVID-19. Support included Hurricane Ida relief efforts, an environmental education workshop for teachers, a Classroom of the Month program and the United Way’s ‘Pen Friends’ program.

Contact Information:

Alex Schott
VP, North America Communications
318-372-4091
[email protected]

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.

Drax’s around 3,000 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. For more information visit https://www.drax.com/us

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 decarbonization project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilization 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.

The Group also aims to build on its BECCS innovation at Drax Power Station with a target to deliver four million tons of negative CO2 emissions each year from new-build BECCS outside of the UK by 2030 and is currently developing models for North American and European markets.

Pellet production and supply:

The Group has 19 operational pellet plants and developments with nameplate production capacity of around five million tons a year.

Drax is targeting eight million tons of production capacity by 2030, which will require the development of over three million tons of new biomass pellet production capacity. 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 plants supply biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses, and also to customers in Europe and Asia.

Junior League Receives $15,000 from Drax for Creative Programs

News

Renewable energy company Drax has announced the donation of $15,000 to the Junior League of Monroe’s Classroom Mini-Grants program.

The Mini-Grants program offers educators in northern Louisiana an opportunity to receive up to $500 in funding for unique school development programs. In total, 32 initiatives received funding to help kickstart creative programs that will benefit more than 4,000 Louisiana students.

“Because of Drax’s donation, we are able to strengthen and support learning for thousands of students by providing opportunities for innovative programs and resources to dedicated teachers,” said Melinda Minniefield, the Junior League of Monroe President. “Drax has helped us enable exciting projects that will benefit our future generations.”

The Junior League of Monroe is an organization of women committed to promoting volunteerism, developing the potential of women and improving communities.

“The funding from Drax will allow us to continue to produce our podcast ‘The Lion’s Roar,’ which acts as a form of vocational training, teaching students new skills like how to make a podcast,” said Paul Smith, Ouachita Parish High School teacher. “The experience results in students finding the freedom to express themselves while learning important lifelong skills.”

Drax has supported a variety of educational programs in Louisiana including an environmental education workshop for teachers, a Classroom of the Month program and the United Way’s Pen Friends program.

“As Drax continues to grow, we are committed to helping Louisiana students find new and creative ways to learn,” said Matt White, Executive Vice President of North America Operations for Drax. “We’re happy to be able to partner with the Junior League of Monroe to support such an impactful program for the local community.”

Contact Information:

Alex Schott
VP, North America Communications
318-372-4091
[email protected]

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.

Drax’s around 3,000 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. For more information visit https://www.drax.com/us

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 decarbonization project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilization 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.

The Group also aims to build on its BECCS innovation at Drax Power Station with a target to deliver four million tons of negative CO2 emissions each year from new-build BECCS outside of the UK by 2030 and is currently developing models for North American and European markets.

Pellet production and supply:

The Group has 19 operational pellet plants and developments with nameplate production capacity of around five million tons a year.

Drax is targeting eight million tons of production capacity by 2030, which will require the development of over three million tons of new biomass pellet production capacity. 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 plants supply biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses, and also to customers in Europe and Asia.

West Baton Rouge Foundation Receives $5,000 from Drax to Support Education

News

As part of its efforts to support education and skills in Louisiana, renewable energy company Drax is donating $5,000 to the West Baton Rouge (WBR) Foundation’s classroom grants program. The funds will be used to develop new, creative learning activities for the students across six different schools.

“Many of our teachers have creative and innovative ideas for student projects but lack the funding to bring it to life,” said Jarja Carville, Director of the WBR Foundation. “Our WBR Foundation is grateful for this donation from Drax which will allow our teachers to get the tools they need to be successful.”.

The schools that were awarded grants include: Caneview K-8 School, Port Allen Elementary School, Holy Family School, Brusly Elementary School, Brusly Middle School and Brusly High School.

“With the latest grant, I plan to acquire a lift bus, so that students in wheelchairs can join us on the eight community outings and activities planned for the school year that allow our students to learn outside of the classroom,” said Gale Jones, Brusly High School special education teacher. “We are so excited to acquire the lift bus, and we are very thankful to Drax and the WBR Foundation for continuing to assist us in our educational, life-skills adventures.”

Brusly Middle School is part of a district that enables schools to have a digital library program where students use their Chromebooks to borrow and read library books.

“This grant will allow the school to purchase multi-user books that will be permanently available in our digital library,” said Dianne Palermo, Brusly Middle School librarian and teacher. “This grant offers us new opportunities to make reading easier and more accessible for our students.”

BMS Dianne Palermo: Brusly Middle School teacher and librarian Dianne Palermo.

Drax has supported a variety of educational programs in Louisiana through donations that helped communities impacted by natural disasters and COVID-19. The support has included Hurricane Ida relief efforts, an environmental education workshop for teachers, a Classroom of the Month program and the United Way’s ‘Pen Friends’ program.

Contact Information:

Alex Schott
VP, North America Communications
318-372-4091
[email protected]

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.

Drax’s around 3,000 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. For more information visit https://www.drax.com/us

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 decarbonization project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilization 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.

The Group also aims to build on its BECCS innovation at Drax Power Station with a target to deliver four million tons of negative CO2 emissions each year from new-build BECCS outside of the UK by 2030 and is currently developing models for North American and European markets.

Pellet production and supply:

The Group has 19 operational pellet plants and developments with nameplate production capacity of around five million tons a year.

Drax is targeting eight million tons of production capacity by 2030, which will require the development of over three million tons of new biomass pellet production capacity. 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 plants supply biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses, and also to customers in Europe and Asia.

Drax Announces $50 Million Expansion to Aliceville Facility, Increases Investment in Alabama

20 December 2022

News
  • Expansion expected to result in a nearly 50% boost in wood pellet production capacity.
  • Announcement comes on the heels of recent study that shows Drax could contribute more than a quarter billion dollars to Alabama’s economy in 2023.
  • Alabama job seekers encouraged to apply for openings and career opportunities now available at the Aliceville plant.

Situated within an attractive supply of wood and timber, Aliceville is well-positioned as a growing hub for sustainable forestry and the biomass industry. The region boasts of a high concentration of existing sawmills that produce the residuals necessary to support sustainable wood pellet production.

“We are greatly appreciative for the continued investment Drax has placed in Aliceville, which is a tremendous blessing for the economy of our community, the local citizens who will be employed at Drax, as well as our supporting area businesses,” said Aliceville Mayor Terrence Windham. “Although our community is rural, I am pleased how we are utilizing our unique natural resources to help move our community forward in a dramatic way.”

The $50 million dollar investment at Drax’s Aliceville pellet facility will increase production capacity by nearly 50%, from 250,000 tons to 380,000 tons.

“The expansion at the Aliceville plant allows Drax to increase production capacity in the state while further investing in the local community and creating more job opportunities for Alabama residents,” said Matt White, Executive Vice President of North America Operations for Drax.

The expansion includes upgrades to existing systems as well as new truck dumps and pelletizer units, which will allow for an increase in the amount of sawmill residuals processed. The additional capacity is expected to begin commissioning in 2024.

“Together with our Demopolis plant, Aliceville plays a critical role in our ability to meet the growing global demand for wood pellets because it provides Europe and Asia with reliable, renewable electricity to help displace coal from their energy systems,” said White.

Drax’s goal is to increase its global pellet production capacity from around 5 million tons to 8 million tons by 2030.

An economic impact report released last week showed that Drax could contribute more than $260 million to Alabama’s economy in 2023, adding more than $100 million to the state’s GDP.

Alabama residents interested in learning more and applying for a career at Drax can visit drax.com/us/careers for a complete list of available openings.

Media contact

Alex Schott
VP, North America Communications
E: [email protected]
T: 318-372-4091

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.

Drax’s around 3,000 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. For more information visit www.drax.com

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 decarbonization project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilization 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.

The Group also aims to build on its BECCS innovation at Drax Power Station with a target to deliver 4 million tons of negative CO2 emissions each year from new-build BECCS outside of the UK by 2030 and is currently developing models for North American and European markets.

Pellet production and supply:

The Group has 19 operational pellet plants and developments with nameplate production capacity of around 5 million tons a year.

Drax is targeting 8 million tons of production capacity by 2030, which will require the development of over 3 million tons of new biomass pellet production capacity. 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 plants supply biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses, and also to customers in Europe and Asia.

Customers: 

Drax supplies renewable electricity to UK businesses, offering a range of energy-related services including energy optimization, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.

To find out more go to the website www.energy.drax.com

Report Shows Drax Could Provide More than a Billion Dollars to Southeast U.S. Economies in 2023

15 December 2022

News
  • Drax commissioned Chmura – a trusted provider of economic data and analysis – to conduct a study exploring the economic and fiscal impact of Drax’s operations across the U.S. Southeast.
  • Sustainable biomass production is now a key industry in Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Arkansas, boosting the economic prospects for rural communities.
  • Drax plans for additional growth and further investment the U.S. as biomass and carbon capture plays a key role in the clean energy future.

An independent, third-party economic analysis has shown that Drax Group, a leader in sustainable biomass, could contribute more than $1 billion in total across four southeastern states in 2023, including $425 million to the region’s GDP.

Conducted by a team of data scientists and PhD economists at Chmura, the analysis measured the economic impact of Drax’s biomass operations in Alabama, Arkansas, Louisiana and Mississippi, as well as well as indirect revenues of other businesses supported by Drax’s operations. The four states are home to Drax’s North American operations that produces sustainable biomass.

Sustainable biomass uses harvest residuals and low-grade wood, such as tops and branches, low quality trees or parts that are diseased or misshapen. This market for low-grade wood helps improve the health and productivity of forests while providing rural counties with a new income stream.

Other highlights from the report included figures on Drax’s history of investment in the region and contribution to key industries:

  • From 2013-2022, Drax has invested $884.1 million in the four states, developing wood pellet plants, a port facility and a corporate office.
  • From 2013-2022, capital expenditure for all Drax facilities is estimated to have had cumulative economic impacts of $368.5 million in spending and $184.7 million in GDP in the four states.
  • The cumulative economic impact of Drax’s operations from 2023 to 2030 is estimated to be $8.3 billion in total spending and $3.4 billion in GDP to the four states.

“At a time when many families are facing economic hardship, we were very proud to see how sustainable biomass production is providing a multimillion-dollar boost to rural communities” said Matt White, Executive Vice President of North America Operations for Drax. “Drax is committed to ensuring the biomass we source delivers positive outcomes for the climate, for nature and for the communities in which we operate.”

Drax aims to increase its global pellet production capacity from around 5 million tons to 8 million tons by the end of this decade.

Sustainable biomass is set to play an even larger role in combating climate change in the years ahead.

“Biomass is a reliable renewable power source and, when paired with carbon capture and storage technology, it can permanently remove CO2 from the atmosphere, which will help the world reach its climate targets,” White said.

Drax is pioneering a carbon removals technology – bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), which will permanently remove millions of tons of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere while at the same time generating renewable power.

“With the right support from governments, Drax stands ready to invest billions in deploying BECCS at scale across the globe to cut carbon emissions and generate renewable power for millions of homes and businesses,” said White.

A recent study published by the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (overseen by the U.S. Department of Energy) forecast that to deliver the goal of 100% clean electricity by 2035, the country must start deploying BECCS as soon as 2026.

A summary of the Chmura report can be found here.

Media contact:

Alex Schott
VP, North America Communications
E: [email protected]
T: 318-372-4091

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.

Drax’s around 3,000 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. For more information visit www.drax.com/us

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 decarbonization project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilization 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.

The Group also aims to build on its BECCS innovation at Drax Power Station with a target to deliver 4 million tons of negative CO2 emissions each year from new-build BECCS outside of the UK by 2030 and is currently developing models for North American and European markets.

Pellet production and supply:

The Group has 18 operational pellet plants and developments with nameplate production capacity of around 5 million tons a year.

Drax is targeting 8 million tons of production capacity by 2030, which will require the development of over 3 million tons of new biomass pellet production capacity. 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 plants supply biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses, and also to customers in Europe and Asia.

Customers: 

Drax supplies renewable electricity to UK businesses, offering a range of energy-related services including energy optimization, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.

To find out more go to the website www.energy.drax.com

Ouachita Christian Elementary School awarded Drax ‘Classroom of the Month’

5 December 2022

News

Their teacher Ashley Maxwell said:

“The Classroom of the Month program is great for the students. They were really excited about receiving the award, and they are so proud of themselves for the achievement, as am I. Their excitement over the award fosters excitement for learning, for University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM), and for higher education in general. They’ll remember this moment for years to come.”

The program has been developed by Drax in partnership with the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) to inspire local students to start thinking about their future and what they can achieve, as part of the energy company’s ongoing commitment to supporting education in the communities local to its operations.

A different class each month is awarded ‘Classroom of the Month’ by Drax and receives a visit from ULM representatives to reward the pupils for their hard work and show them some of the options available to them as they advance through school.

Drax has arranged for representatives from the University’s athletics department to visit the schools to talk to the students, raise awareness of the college and answer any questions they might have. The students also receive two tickets each to a Warhawk football, basketball, or baseball game and meet Ace, the team mascot.

Twice during the school year, the Classroom of the Month winners will be invited to the campus for a tour. The students will get to experience the university campus and learn about higher education opportunities right in their hometown.

Drew Bellipanni, Partnership Services Coordinator at ULM, said:

“This program is a chance to give back to our local schools and teachers who have worked hard throughout the pandemic to continue teaching our children. We hope Classroom of the Month will motivate students to continue studying as well as see what college has to offer.”

Executive Vice President of Drax’s North America Pellet Operations, Matt White, said:

“It’s so important that the next generation has equal access to education. Even though these children are in the early stages of their school careers, we hope this program will inspire them by showing them what opportunities are available to them in the future.”

Drax is committed to supporting the communities local to its operations and has this year, supported education and skills in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama and provided donations to help efforts to improve communities and work to support sustainable forestry.

In Louisiana, recent support has included donating to a veterans food drive, sponsoring a community garden and launching a classroom grants program.

ENDS

Picture caption: Second graders at OCS Elementary School, winners of November’s Classroom of the Month, with ULM Cheerleaders

Media contacts: 

Megan Hopgood
Communications Officer
E: [email protected]
T: 07936 350 175

Annmarie Sartor
Community Manager
E: [email protected]
T: +1 318-732-6920

Editor’s Notes

  • Through its operations in Louisiana and Mississippi, Drax supports more than 1,200 jobs and contributes $175m to the region’s economy.
  • This includes more than 1,200 jobs in Louisiana and Mississippi with 300 direct jobs across these two states in Drax’s three pellet mills and at the port of Greater Baton Rouge.
  • Drax’s pellet mills also support the wider supply chain of loggers, truckers, railway workers, port workers and other logistics professionals.

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.

Drax’s around 3,000 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. For more information visit www.drax.com

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.

The Group also aims to build on its BECCS innovation at Drax Power Station with a target to deliver 4 million tonnes of negative CO2 emissions each year from new-build BECCS outside of the UK by 2030 and is currently developing models for North American and European markets.

Pellet production and supply:

The Group has 18 operational pellet plants and developments with nameplate production capacity of around 5 million tonnes a year.

Drax is targeting 8 million tonnes of production capacity by 2030, which will require the development of over 3 million tonnes of new biomass pellet production capacity. 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 plants supply biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses, and also to customers in Europe and Asia.

Customers: 

Drax supplies renewable electricity to UK businesses, offering a range of energy-related services including energy optimisation, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.

To find out more go to the website www.energy.drax.com

 

Jack Hayes Elementary School awarded Drax ‘Classroom of the Month’

10 November 2022

News

The program has been developed by Drax in partnership with the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) to inspire local students to start thinking about their future and what they can achieve, as part of the energy company’s ongoing commitment to supporting education in the communities local to its operations.

A different class each month is awarded ‘Classroom of the Month’ by Drax and receives a visit from ULM representatives to reward the pupils for their hard work and show them some of the options available to them as they advance through school.

Drax has arranged for representatives from the University’s athletics department to visit the schools to talk to the students, raise awareness of the college and answer any questions they might have. The students also receive two tickets each to a Warhawk football, basketball, or baseball game and meet Ace, the team mascot.

Their teacher Laura Malone said: “My students loved being rewarded for working hard in their studies, and I know they’ll love going to a ULM football game. I think the program gives the students something to strive for during their time in school, and it lets them know that college is an option that’s available to them. With the Classroom of the Month program, the students are made aware of the rewards studying hard can bring to them, even at such a young age.”

Twice during the school year, the Classroom of the Month winners will be invited to the campus for a tour. The students will get to experience the university campus and learn about higher education opportunities right in their hometown.

Drew Bellipanni, Partnership Services Coordinator at ULM, said: “This program is a chance to give back to our local schools and teachers who have worked hard throughout the pandemic to continue teaching our children. We hope Classroom of the Month will motivate students to continue studying as well as see what college has to offer.”

Executive Vice President of Drax’s Pellet Operations, Matt White, said: “It’s so important that the next generation has equal access to education. Even though these children are in the early stages of their school careers, we hope this program will inspire them by showing them what opportunities are available to them in the future.”

Drax is committed to supporting the communities local to its operations and has this year, supported education and skills in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama and provided donations to help efforts to improve communities and work to support sustainable forestry.

In Louisiana, recent support has included donating to a veterans’ food drive, sponsoring a community garden and launching a classroom grants program.

ENDS

Picture caption: Third graders at Jack Hayes Elementary School, winners of October’s Classroom of the Month, with ULM Hawkline members

Media contacts:

Megan Hopgood

Communications Officer

E: [email protected]

T: 07936 350 175

Editor’s Notes

  • Through its operations in Louisiana and Mississippi, Drax supports more than 1,200 jobs and contributes $175m to the region’s economy.
  • This includes more than 1,200 jobs in Louisiana and Mississippi with 300 direct jobs across these two states in Drax’s three pellet mills and at the port of Greater Baton Rouge.
  • Drax’s pellet mills also support the wider supply chain of loggers, truckers, railway workers, port workers and other logistics professionals.

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.

Drax’s around 3,000 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. For more information visit www.drax.com

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.

The Group also aims to build on its BECCS innovation at Drax Power Station with a target to deliver 4 million tonnes of negative CO2 emissions each year from new-build BECCS outside of the UK by 2030 and is currently developing models for North American and European markets.

Pellet production and supply:
The Group has 18 operational pellet plants and developments with nameplate production capacity of around 5 million tonnes a year.

Drax is targeting 8 million tonnes of production capacity by 2030, which will require the development of over 3 million tonnes of new biomass pellet production capacity. 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 plants supply biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses, and also to customers in Europe and Asia.

Customers: 

Drax supplies renewable electricity to UK businesses, offering a range of energy-related services including energy optimisation, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.

To find out more go to the website www.energy.drax.com