Renewable energy pioneer Drax has completed the first in a series of solar power installations across its historic Galloway and Lanark hydropower schemes in Scotland.
The state-of-the-art panels have been installed on the roof of Glenlee power station in Galloway as part of an £850,000 investment by Drax. Around 1,500 panels will be fitted as part of the project by Drax’s project partner Geo Green Power. The renewable electricity generated by the panels will mainly be used to meet the hydro scheme’s own power needs, helping to cut an estimated 500 tonnes of CO2 through displacing the need for fossil-fuel generation from the national grid.
The initiative is a positive step towards realising Drax’s commitment of achieving net zero emissions across its value chain by the end of 2040.
Mike Wynd, Drax’s Head of Hydro, said: “This is an exciting new chapter for Drax’s historic Lanark and Galloway schemes. By combining modern solar panels with our mature hydro systems, we’re moving the company closer to its net zero by 2040 ambitions.
“These power stations have made a remarkable contribution to Scotland’s energy needs, generating renewable electricity for almost a century. Through this solar power project, we are setting them up for a bright future for many more years to come.”
James Cunningham, Managing Director, Geo Green Power, said: “We’re delighted to be working alongside Drax, a household name in the energy industry, reducing their carbon footprint and assisting in their continued efforts to improve the organisations sustainability.”
Both schemes are two of the most historically important hydro facilities in Scotland. Lanark was completed in 1927 and is designated as a site of national architectural importance. The much larger Galloway scheme, which consists of six power stations and eight dams, also has protected status owing to its “finely detailed Modernist classical design”.
ENDS
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About Drax
Drax’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future. Our strategic aims are to be a global leader in both carbon removals and sustainable biomass pellet production, and to be a UK leader in dispatchable, renewable generation.
Our operations
Drax owns and operates a portfolio of flexible, low-carbon and renewable UK power assets – biomass, hydro, and pumped storage generation – which provide dispatchable power and system support services to the electricity grid.
We are the UK’s largest source of renewable power by output, and Drax Power Station is the UK’s largest single source of renewable electricity by output.
Through our pellet production facilities in North America, Drax is a leading integrated producer of sustainable biomass. Drax has 18 operational and development pellet production sites which will have a nameplate capacity of around 5.4 million tonnes once expansions are complete.
Drax supplies renewable electricity to UK industrial and commercial customers, offering a range of energy-related services including energy optimisation, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.
