Drax scraps gas plant to focus on biomass

• 3 years ago (2021-03-01)
• David Flin

Europe 1061 Gas 370

---

Drax has announced that it has abandoned plans to build Europe’s largest gas-fired power station in Yorkshire, UK. It said that it would instead focus on renewable power, including sustainable biomass generation, and the development of carbon capture and storage capacity.

The proposed gas scheme was opposed by environmental group; however, it was approved by the then UK Business Secretary Andrea Leadsom in 2019. The company said its aims to become carbon negative by 2030 means it will no longer be proceeding with the gas scheme, a move that will cost it £13 million.

Will Gardiner, CEO of Drax Group, said: “Our focus is on renewable power. Our carbon intensity is one of the lowest of all European power generators. We aim to be carbon negative by 2030 and are continuing to make progress. We are announcing that we will not develop new gas-fired capacity at Drax. This builds on our decision to end commercial coal generation and the recent sale of our existing gas-fired power stations.”

Drax announced in early February that it plans to acquire Pinnacle Renewable Energy, a company that manufactures wood pellets for power generation.