Molly Ayala
Drax Group is a renewable energy company that owns and operates Drax Power Station, a large biomass power station in North Yorkshire, England. The power station, which was converted from coal to biomass, provides about 5-6% of the UK's electricity supply. The name Drax comes from the nearby village of Drax, and the power station is situated on the River Ouse between Selby and Goole. With a generating capacity of 3,906 megawatts (MW), it is the largest power station in the United Kingdom.
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What You'll Learn
Drax Group's sustainability goals
The name "Drax" comes from the village of Drax, North Yorkshire, England, where the Drax Power Station is located. The power station was initially conceived by the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) in 1962 as the country's largest power station. Over the years, it has undergone several changes in ownership and operations and is now operated by the Drax Group, which has outlined comprehensive sustainability goals.
Drax Group recognizes the importance of sustainable biomass sourcing and embedding sustainable practices across its operations. The acquisition of Billington Bioenergy, specialists in sustainable biomass pellets, demonstrates this commitment. Additionally, the group has invested in carbon capture technology and explored Demand Side Response (DSR) solutions, such as fine-tuning energy usage in offices and electric vehicle charge points.
The company also strives to create a positive economic, social, and environmental impact through its business model. It aims to align financial performance, value creation, and sustainability outcomes. This includes partnering with communities to make a positive contribution to their lives and livelihoods, considering the impact of business activities on the environment and society.
Furthermore, Drax Group is committed to meeting the world's increasing demand for secure energy in a sustainable manner. The group has acquired various enterprises, such as Haven Power and Opus Energy, to diversify its energy sources and supply capabilities. With a focus on flexibility and electric assets, the company is adapting to the changing UK electricity grid and helping organizations benefit from more sustainable energy consumption.
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Drax Power Station's history
The history of the Drax Power Station dates back to the 1960s when the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) first conceived the project. The Drax Power Station was initially envisioned as the country's largest power station, with a capacity of about 3,000 MW. The discovery of the Selby Coalfield in 1967 led to the decision to build three large power stations, including Drax, which would be the largest. The project received full permission in March 1966, and construction began soon after. The first three units of the power station, known as "Drax First Half", were synchronised to the grid between 1973 and 1974, with a total electrical capacity of just under 2 gigawatts.
In the 1980s, the power station was extended with the addition of three more units, known as "Drax Completion". This expansion doubled the size and capacity of the power station to just under 4 GW, making it the largest power station in the UK. The second phase of the project was completed in 1986, and the power station became fully operational in 1995. The construction and expansion of the Drax Power Station involved various companies, including Tarmac Construction, Holst Civil Engineers, Bierrum & Partners, N.G. Bailey, and Sulzer Brothers, among others.
Following the privatisation of the CEGB in 1990, the power station was transferred to the privatised generating company National Power, which later sold it to the AES Corporation in 1999 for £1.87 billion (US$3 billion). However, AES encountered financial difficulties and relinquished ownership in 2003. After refinancing, the Drax Group acquired the power station in December 2005.
In recent years, the Drax Power Station has undergone significant changes to reduce its environmental impact. In 2012, the company announced plans to convert its generating units to solely biomass, and this work was completed by 2018. In 2021, the coal-fired generation at the power station officially ended, and it now operates as a biomass power station with a capacity of 2.6 GW. The power station has also implemented carbon capture and storage technology, playing a crucial role in the transition to a zero-carbon energy future.
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Electricity generation at Drax
Drax Power Station is a large biomass power station in Drax, North Yorkshire, England. Its name comes from the nearby village of Drax. It is situated on the River Ouse between Selby and Goole. Its generating capacity of 3,906 megawatts (MW), which includes the shut-down coal units, is the highest of any power station in the United Kingdom, providing about 5-6% of the United Kingdom's electricity supply.
Drax Power Station was initially conceived by the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) in 1962 as the country's largest power station, with a capacity of about 3,000 MW. In 1967, the CEGB decided to expand the station at Ferrybridge and build a new one at Eggborough, with Drax being the largest of the three. The station was constructed and commissioned in two stages. The first stage (units 1, 2 and 3) was completed in 1974, and the second stage (units 4, 5 and 6) in 1986. Each unit has a capacity of 660 MW when burning coal, giving a total capacity of just under 4 GW.
Drax Power Station has a long history of playing a central role in producing the UK's electricity. It was the last coal-fired power station to be built in the UK and was initially designed to use low-sulphur coal from the nearby Selby coalfield. In 2009, Drax Group, which owns the power station, acquired Haven Power, enabling it to sell electricity directly. In 2012, the company announced plans to convert three generating units to solely biomass, burning 7.5 million tonnes imported from the United States and Canada. This work was completed in 2016, and a fourth unit was converted in 2018.
Drax has since become a leader in sustainable bioenergy and carbon capture, with ambitions to become a carbon-negative business by 2030. In 2021, all coal supplies to the power station ended, and it transitioned to biomass. The power station is also the site of innovation for bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), a negative emissions technology essential for fighting the climate crisis.
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Demand Side Response (DSR)
DSR is a tool for moderating demand that falls under the broader umbrella of Demand Side Management. There are many types of Demand Response programs, ranging from direct compensation-based programs for commercial and industrial customers to savings-based programs for consumer and retail customers. Participants are rewarded for their willingness to be flexible in their energy use in response to grid conditions or peak hours.
DSR provides a solution to the problem of electricity generation upsetting the balance of the grid by either curtailing use or shifting consumption to a different time, depending on the available capacity of the grid. DSR works by incentivizing energy consumers to reduce energy consumption at times of peak demand. For example, by reducing the cost of energy via spot tariffs or reimbursement via participation in flexibility or ancillary services markets.
DSR is important because it helps to reduce costs across the energy supply chain and improve security of supply. It also provides a way for businesses to make money, reduce their bills and cut their carbon footprint. DSR is also an important tool to help ensure a secure, sustainable and affordable electricity system. It can help soften peaks in demand and fill in the troughs, especially at times when power is more abundant, affordable and clean.
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Drax's subsidy scheme
Drax Power Station is a large biomass power station in North Yorkshire, England, named after the nearby village of Drax. It was initially conceived by the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) in 1962 as the country's largest power station, with a capacity of about 3,000 MW. The CEGB decided to use this opportunity to employ the 660 MW turbogenerator sets, which were planned to become the new standard, so the planning consents were revised to about 4,000 MW.
Drax Power Station was constructed and commissioned in two stages. The first stage (units 1, 2, and 3) was completed in 1974, and the second stage (units 4, 5, and 6) was completed in 1986. The station was initially designed to use low-sulphur coal from the nearby Selby coalfield, with each unit having a capacity of 660 MW when burning coal, resulting in a total capacity of just under 4 GW.
Drax Power Station has undergone several ownership changes since its privatisation in 1990. In 1999, it was acquired by the US-based AES Corporation for £1.87 billion (US$3 billion). In 2009, the Drax Group acquired Haven Power, enabling it to sell electricity directly. The Drax Group has since made several acquisitions and divestments to diversify its energy portfolio.
In February 2025, the UK government announced a deal to halve Drax's subsidies over the period of 2027-2031 while ensuring the group increases the use of sustainable woody biomass. The new agreement includes a maximum load factor of 27% and a requirement to exclude material sourced from primary and old-growth forests. This decision was made in response to concerns about sustainability and the level of subsidy received by biomass plants. The government aims to balance energy security and environmental considerations while reducing the financial burden on consumers.
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Frequently asked questions
The Drax Group is a renewable energy company that owns and operates the Drax Power Station, which generates about 5-6% of the UK's electricity supply.
The Drax Power Station is a large biomass power station in Drax, North Yorkshire, England. It was initially a coal-fired power station but has since been converted to burning biomass.
The power station uses biomass, specifically wood pellets, to generate electricity. The biomass is stored in four large domes, each capable of fitting the Albert Hall inside, and holding 300,000 tonnes of compressed wood pellets. The biomass is then transported via a conveyor belt to the pulveriser, where the process of generating electricity begins.
The power station was initially conceived by the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB) in 1962 as the country's largest power station. It was constructed and commissioned in two stages, with the first stage completed in 1974 and the second in 1986. Since privatisation in 1990, ownership has changed several times, and it is now operated by the Drax Group.
