Drax halts investment in UK BECCS

• 1 year, 1 month ago (2023-03-22)
• David Flin

Biomass 8 Europe 1061 Gas engine plant 58

---

Drax has announced that it has put its investment programme into the bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) project at Drax Power Station on hold.

Drax said that it needs its BECCS project to gain Track 1 status from the UK Government. It said that without this, “Drax Power Station many become unviable, unable to contribute secure power during critical times.”

Drax’s biomass units provide up to 11 per cent of total UK electricity generation.

Will Gardiner, CEO of Drax, said that while they welcome the UK government’s plan to invest billions into carbon capture and storage, a firm commitment to BECCS was needed before investing £2 billion into installing the technology at Drax Power Station. He added that until there is clarity on this, Drax has put its investment programme in the UK BECCS project on hold.

A spokesperson for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: “We are committed to reducing our carbon emissions and achieving energy security – and carbon capture has a significant role to play in getting us there. The Chancellor has provided an unprecedented £20 billion investment to develop this new capability and we will announce the first round of successful applications later this month. We will publish the Biomass Strategy in 2023, which will set out further details on the government’s view on how biomass can best contribute towards net zero and our energy security.”