Archives: Press Release

Drax Community Fund awards over £40,000 to organisations across the globe in the first half of 2025

19 June 2025

News
  • 42 organisations across the UK, US and Canada were the beneficiaries of grants to support community-led projects

Communities in the UK, U.S and Canada have been given a funding boost with support from the Drax Community Fund during the first half of 2025, helping to fund community-led projects in the communities where Drax operates.

The Community Fund was established by Drax back in 2023, to support grassroots organisations and activities with donations of £500 to £10,000 to support STEM education and skills, enhance green spaces and improve communities local to its operations.

“We are proud to support a diverse range of groups and projects in the communities where we operate with the Drax Community Fund,” said Jane Breach, Drax’s UK Community and Education Manager. 

“This latest round of grants will help to support wonderful initiatives that empower young people with community sessions, offer schools much needed resources and provide local communities with equipment for seasonal celebrations.”

Some of the projects that will receive donations from the Drax Community Fund, include:

Camblesforth Social Events

An organisation which provides events for Camblesforth, North Yorkshire and its surrounding villages to take part in community activities and fun days, has received £2,000 to support the running of its 2025 Spring Fayre.

MAGNAtech 3468

A robotics club at West Monroe High School in Louisiana, have been awarded £1,500 ($2,000) to support the provision of STEM materials to allow students to engage in hands-on STEM learning and experimentation.

Goole Youth Action

A youth organisation dedicated to providing opportunities and activities for young people in Goole, North Yorkshire, were awarded £1,000, to support a trip for young people aged 11-16 to visit the Skylark Centre at Drax Power Station.

Kilmartin Primary School

A primary school in Lochgilphead, Argyll, were awarded £395 to provide schoolchildren with a visit to Cruachan Power Station.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Media contacts:

Kieran Wilson
E: [email protected]
T: 07729092807

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.

Our future

Drax is progressing options for carbon removals using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology globally and at our UK biomass power station. We are progressing plans to develop 7 million tonnes of carbon removals through BECCS by 2030.

In 2024, we launched Elimini, a US-based company to lead our global efforts to deliver carbon removals at scale. Elimini’s purpose is to remove carbon for good. To achieve this, it is convening engineers, environmentalists, communities, investors, and innovators to scale the market for carbon removals, with the aspiration of transforming our economies from carbon emitters to carbon removers. For more information, visit elimini.com.

Drax Foundation gives £1.43 million globally to power STEM education, biodiversity and energy access

11 June 2025

News

This latest round of investment spans more than 20 community projects across the regions where Drax operates.

In total, the Drax Foundation’s contributions will support over 20,000 children with access to STEM education, over 24,000 individuals with nature-based learning and 400 households struggling with fuel poverty.

Shona King, Group Head of Social Impact at Drax, said: “The Drax Foundation is committed to investing in communities to create real and lasting impact. Whether it’s helping students in rural Canada learn about climate science, supporting First Nations in biodiversity restoration, or providing energy advice to vulnerable UK households – our focus is global, but our impact is deeply local.”

Some of the projects that will receive funding from the Drax Foundation, include:

Engineering Development Trust (UK – North Yorkshire)

A UK based charity that helps connect young people with STEM and inspire STEM futures among under-represented groups, has been awarded £41,846 to support their STEM Futures programme, which aims to encourage STEM careers through hands on extra-curricular activities in schools near to Selby, North Yorkshire.

Oban Mountain Rescue (UK – Scotland)

A voluntary organisation providing life-saving support in the mountains and rural areas around Oban, Argyll, has been awarded £30,000 to support their search and rescue capabilities with a new command vehicle.

Project Learning Tree (U.S – U.S South)

A non-profit organisation with the mission of enhancing sustainability and environmental education in rural and low-income communities, has been awarded £78,732 ($99,980 USD) to continue supporting their engagement programme for STEM learning and green career across the U.S South.

Williams Lake First Nation (Canada – British Columbia)

A growing First Nation with a population of 1,000 registered members in British Columbia, Canada, has been awarded £43,478 ($80,000 CAD) to continue their monitoring and restoration of the important aquatic and terrestrial habitat of the San Jose River, which has received previous funding from the Drax Foundation.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Media contacts:

Kieran Wilson
E: [email protected]
T: 07729092807

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.

Our future

Drax is progressing options for carbon removals using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology globally and at our UK biomass power station. We are progressing plans to develop 7 million tonnes of carbon removals through BECCS by 2030.

In 2024, we launched Elimini, a US-based company to lead our global efforts to deliver carbon removals at scale. Elimini’s purpose is to remove carbon for good. To achieve this, it is convening engineers, environmentalists, communities, investors, and innovators to scale the market for carbon removals, with the aspiration of transforming our economies from carbon emitters to carbon removers. For more information, visit elimini.com.

A new dawn for solar – Record-breaking start to year sees household solar installations rocket

29 May 2025

News

A surge in rooftop solar installations is highlighting the growing appetite for solar power across the UK, with tens of thousands of homes now generating their own electricity, according to the latest analysis from Drax Electric Insights.

The country has seen the busiest start to the year for home solar since 2012, as falling costs, policy reforms and record sunshine drive further uptake of solar power in households across the country.

Over 57,000 rooftop systems were installed in the first quarter of 2025 alone – the strongest start to the year for Solar PV since 2012, buoyed by the highest sunshine levels since records began. The Met Office confirmed that March and April were England’s sunniest ever back-to-back months, leading to a 40% year-on-year increase in solar power output.

Cumulative electricity production from solar PV over each year of the past decade – Output so far in 2025 has been 40% higher than any year on record.

“Solar is no longer a fringe green option, it’s becoming a mainstream energy source for the grid, and a long-term investment for households.” Said Dr Iain Staffell, lead author of the report and an associate professor in sustainable energy at Imperial College London.

“With energy prices still elevated and installation payback times falling to as little as 10 years, solar is certainly gaining traction, and this is being accelerated by regulatory tailwinds,” explains Dr Staffell.

“Changes to planning laws now mean many businesses and homeowners will be able to install rooftop panels without seeking permission, whilst proposals under the New Homes Bill could also make solar mandatory on all new-builds from 2027, which would further boost solar PV output.” He added.

Larger solar farms are also riding the wave, following a recent push by the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero (DESNZ) to fast-track approvals.

Perhaps more significantly for other forms of renewable energy – Ofgem’s new Connections Reform Package is starting to unlock the backlog of projects stuck in the grid queue.

The previous ‘first-come, first-serve’ system had allowed speculative schemes to block progress, leaving shovel-ready projects waiting years for a connection. The new ‘first-ready, first-connect’ rules enacted in April aim to cut these delays by up to seven years, prioritising projects that have planning consent, finance and land secured.

Ofgem estimates that the reforms could save £5 billion in grid reinforcement costs and better align new projects with the government’s target of 95% clean power by 2030.

However, the report warns that as renewables surge, the challenge may shift to managing oversupply. NESO expects demand could fall below 13.4 GW, forcing ‘negative reserve’ notices, where inflexible plants like nuclear must cut output to prevent the grid from overloading.

“More renewables on the UK grid are certainly a good thing if we are to try to obtain the ambitious goal of a clean energy grid by 2030.” Said Ian Kinnaird, FlexGen Assets Director at Drax.

“However, the UK it isn’t always windy, and despite the very good spell of weather we have experienced this year, it certainly isn’t always sunny. Flexible, dispatchable power will play an ever-increasing important role alongside storage and upgraded infrastructure if we are to achieve our clean energy goals, whilst maintaining security of supply.”

Drax recently announced plans to install around 1,500 solar panels at its historic Galloway and Lanark Hydro Schemes in Scotland. The panels will be fitted across the rooftops of the eight power stations that comprise the two schemes, providing the stations’ with their own auxiliary power needs. It’s estimated that the project could generate around 482 MWh of renewable electricity each year.

ENDS

Notes to editors

Media contacts:

Kieran Wilson
E: [email protected]

T: 07729092807

About Electric Insights

  • Electric Insights is commissioned by Drax and delivered by a team of independent academics from Imperial College London, facilitated by the college’s consultancy company – Imperial Consultants. The quarterly report analyses raw data made publicly available by National Grid and Elexon, which run the electricity and balancing market respectively, and Sheffield Solar.
  • Electric Insights Quarterly focuses on supply and demand, prices, emissions, the performance of the various generation technologies and the network that connects them.
  • The quarterly reports from the last four and a half years can be access at the new website electricinsights.co.uk alongside the interactive electricinsights.co.uk which provides data from 2009 until the present.
  • You can embed Electric Insight’s live dashboard on your website or blog to keep track of what’s happening in the power grid through a new widget.

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.

Our future

Drax is progressing options for carbon removals using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology globally and at our UK biomass power station. We are progressing plans to develop 7 million tonnes of carbon removals through BECCS by 2030.

In 2024, we launched Elimini, a US-based company to lead our global efforts to deliver carbon removals at scale. Elimini’s purpose is to remove carbon for good. To achieve this, it is convening engineers, environmentalists, communities, investors, and innovators to scale the market for carbon removals, with the aspiration of transforming our economies from carbon emitters to carbon removers. For more information, visit elimini.com.

Click here to read the full Q1 2025 report

Drax agrees 20-year deal with power minerals for state-of-the-art green cement factory

27 March 2025

News

Drax has today announced a 20-year joint venture agreement with Power Minerals Limited (PML) to allow for the development of a state-of-the-art factory to process millions of tonnes of legacy ash into Supplementary Cementitious Material (SCM), which is a key ingredient in low carbon green cement.

The new facility will be located next to the Drax Power Station site on land leased from Drax. Following its conversion to using biomass, the plant is now the single largest generator of renewable electricity in the UK. The power station can provide reliable renewable electricity to around 5 million homes – equivalent to every home in London, or Wales and Scotland combined.

Under the agreement PML will construct, own and operate the new facility, whilst Drax will sell its legacy Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA) to the joint venture as well as provide power to the site, in addition to sharing the profits of the joint venture’s sales of SCM. Drax believes the project could generate incremental adjusted EBITDA of around £5 million each year post-2027 through to 2046.

Production is expected to begin by the end of 2026, with the factory having an expected initial annual production capacity of 400,000 tonnes.

The production of cement contributes around 8% of global CO2 emissions annually. Over the duration of the project, PML estimates the utilisation of PFA from Drax can reduce emissions of CO2 by a minimum of 6 million tonnes, compared to utilising conventional cements.

Lee Dawes, Drax’s Chief Operations Officer, said: “This is a landmark deal not only for Drax, but for the UK construction industry. Cement production is one of the most carbon intensive processes in the world and through this partnership, we will be able to help the construction industry cut its carbon emissions in the years ahead.

“Drax Power Station is integral to the country’s energy security and now through this new agreement it can play a further role in reducing carbon emissions in UK construction as well.

“The opportunity to sell large volumes of PFA from Drax Power Station as part of a long-term JV is another way in which we can realise incremental value from the site whilst helping to reduce carbon emissions. It is an exciting time for Drax as we continue to develop options for long-term investment in the site, including BECCS and a data centre.”

Nigel Waldron, PML’s Managing Director said: “We are proud to have pioneered the use of ashes from Drax for more than 20 years, and now we are delighted to be a part of this major investment, securing a long-term future for our business and our relationship with Drax for decades to come.”

Nils Jansen, Head of Cementitious Materials at PML’s parent company, EP Power Minerals GmbH, said: “This substantial investment and its projected returns represent a game-changer not only for PML, but for the entire EPPM Cementitious Materials business. This positions us to become the leading player in the UK fly ash market for the foreseeable future.”

Ash from the power station was historically deposited at the nearby Barlow Mound. The mound will be retained at its current height along the west and southwest of the site to continue to protect the views of local residents. The remainder of the mound is to be extracted down to surrounding ground levels and then restored. Restoration will focus on retaining existing vegetation where possible, using native plant species, creating wetlands, providing ‘like for like or better’ habitats for those that are lost and the creation of a pathway through the restored landscape for recreation.

ENDS 

 

Media contacts: 

Aidan Kerr 
E: [email protected]
T: 07849090368 

Editor notes 

  • There is no capital investment required by Drax Power Ltd.
  • Drax Power Station is the UK’s largest source of 24/7 renewable power, supporting UK energy security with flexible and reliable renewable power generation and a wide range of system support services.
  • Drax believes that the size, flexibility and location of the asset make it an integral long-term part of the UK energy system. The station has 2.6GW of current biomass generation capacity, in addition to 1.3GW of additional grid connection.
  • As outlined at the Group’s full year results in February 2025, Drax is continuing to assess opportunities for value creation and growth from the site including BECCS and a 1.2GW data centre.

About PML

Power Minerals Ltd (PML) is the UK’s leading independent supplier of Power Station by-products, providing ash sales and marketing services for the power generation sector, and creating a robust and reliable supply chain of sustainable energy by-products to the construction, manufacturing and infrastructure sectors.

Every year PML diverts millions of tonnes of ash from landfill, while reducing the need for its clients to impact the countryside by mining for virgin aggregates. We are also retrieving long-forgotten ash from old stockpiles, and developing methods to enhance these sources, ensuring a sustainable supply chain for the future.

Drax Foundation awards £3.6m funding in 2024, benefiting nearly 100,000 people across the globe

26 March 2025

News
  • Key initiatives include donations to projects that enhance STEM education, improve access to green spaces, and implement energy efficiency measures in schools.
  • Donations projected to benefit 98,000 people in the regions where Drax operates
  • As part of this total, the foundation also donated £695,000 to grassroots organisations through our Community Fund

Drax Foundation, the charitable entity of renewable energy company Drax Group (Drax) awarded a total of £3.6m in funding throughout 2024, marking a significant increase in charitable giving to support communities, develop STEM skills and support the transition to a net-zero future.

Miguel Veiga Pestana, Chief Sustainability Officer at Drax said: “Building stronger communities in the areas where Drax operates is the driving force behind our social purpose and reinforces the people positive pillar of our new Sustainability Framework. Through our charitable giving, we’re empowering individuals with the skills and resources they need to thrive, whilst also making a tangible contribution to a sustainable future.”

The increased funding saw a 33% rise from 2023 levels and helped to reach over 25,000 young people with STEM (science, technology, engineering and mathematics) and nature based activities.

Read the Drax Foundation Annual Review here.

In 2024, the Drax Foundation’s funding:

  • Led to a wide range of impactful outcomes, including 13,606 children participating in STEM education; 7,4062 children and young adults taking part in nature-based education programs
  • Provided funding for 8,836 people with access to improved community green spaces
  • Gave financial and practical support to 2,800 UK households in ‘fuel poverty’ to help pay energy bills
  • Helped 262 schools to reduce their energy costs and consumption with energy-efficient LED lighting, solar panel installation and / or energy efficiency monitoring tools and advice
  • Funded 232 grassroots initiatives in the communities where Drax operates through the Drax Community Fund.

The total of £3.6m of charitable giving was distributed globally from the west coast of Canada to the deep south of the US and in to the heart of Yorkshire in the UK, with £2.91m awarded through the Drax Foundation, £695,000 via the Community Fund, and £11,5000 donated through the Drax Crisis Fund, providing emergency aid in response to natural disasters, conflict, and other humanitarian crises.

Of the total, £2.5m of funding was delivered in the UK, including:

Three grants of £100,000 to the Fuel Bank Foundation, National Energy Action and ALIenergy – charities working to prevent fuel poverty in the UK and support those who are affected by it.

“Funding from the Drax Foundation has helped us to increase both affordable warmth work and educational activities in Argyll and Bute. This work is much needed with energy prices still sky high and rural households in particular struggling with expensive forms of heating. The region is underserved in terms of facilities and this funding will help us with our goal of ensuring no individuals live in fuel poverty without access to affordable energy in Argyll and Bute.” said Lynda Mitchell, CEO of ALIenergy

Barwic Parade Community Primary School in Selby

The donations also saved three UK schools an estimated 2,512 tonnes of combined carbon emissions. Kirk Sandall Junior School in Yorkshire, Abington Vale Primary School in Northampton and Barwic Parade Community Primary School in Selby were all given funding for solar panel installations as part of a campaign to support UK schools and community-led organisations to become more energy efficient.

In the U.S, £690,000 of funding included:

We supported Boys and Girls Clubs of America in Mississippi to expand STEM programming in the regions where Drax operates. We also provided funding with the National Audubon Society, supporting their environmental education work in Louisiana, Mississippi and Arkansas.

National Audubon Society

Ouachita Green were awarded £11,500 from our Community Fund to continue their mission of preserving Ouachita Parish’s natural beauty, protecting the environment, preventing blight, leading litter abatement efforts, and providing environmental education.

“The partnership with Drax helps to keep our internship program alive,” said Sheila Kay Downhour, Executive Director of Ouachita Green. “Thanks to the support of Drax, we’re able to continue our clean-up efforts in the parish, but we’re also able to support our intern program. Those young people make all the difference in the work we’re doing to leave the world a little better than we found it, and Drax is a big part in keeping that good work going.”

In Canada, the Foundation provided £378,000 of funding, including:

£57,500 funding to Scientists in School, an organisation which aims to encourage children to connect scientific knowledge to their world and increase interest in careers in STEM subjects. The funding helped provide over 500 children with access to STEM learning in British Columbia and Alberta.

“Drax Foundation support has been a catalyst for our evolution as a national charity shaping the STEM skills and futures of over 350,000 youth annually. This funding has enhanced our ability to reach children and youth in rural and under-served communities in British Columbia and Alberta, with a lasting impact on increasing STEM interest and confidence, giving young scientists the opportunity to develop lifelong skills.” Said Cindy Adams, Executive Director, Scientists in School

Scientists in School

Donations from the fund have also been given to other essential organisations in Canada like the Smithers School Lunch Program, as well as youth programs, education and employment organisations, physical and mental health charities, community spaces and organisations that strengthen the communities where Drax operates.

Through its commitment to supporting local communities and advancing sustainability, Drax is helping to create a more resilient and net-zero future for people around the world.

Read the Drax Foundation Annual Review here.

ENDS

Featured image caption: A project at Gulf Coast Center for Ecotourism & Sustainability.

Media contacts:

Kieran Wilson
E: [email protected] 
T: 07729 092807

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 the world’s second largest 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.

Our future

Drax is progressing options for carbon removals using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology globally and at our UK biomass power station. We are progressing plans to develop 7 million tonnes of carbon removals through BECCS by 2030.

In 2024, we launched Elimini, a US-based company to lead our global efforts to deliver carbon removals at megaton scale. Elimini’s purpose is to remove carbon for good. To achieve this, it is convening engineers, environmentalists, communities, investors, and innovators to scale the market for carbon removals, with the aspiration of transforming our economies from carbon emitters to carbon removers. For more information, visit elimini.com.

Employment tribunal concluded

24 March 2025

News

A tribunal process which has been ongoing involving a former Drax employee since 13 March, has now concluded. The joint statement agreed by both parties reads:

“Ms Ahmar and Drax have agreed to resolve proceedings without further progress of the hearing. The parties have reached a mutually agreeable position, without admission of liability.

Ms Ahmar made protected disclosures. Those disclosures were the subject of independent investigations instigated by Drax as were other matters that Ms Ahmar raised about her employment.

The independent investigation into the disclosures has been shared with the regulator who reached a determination that is already public.

At the end of the investigation processes, Ms Ahmar’s employment was terminated. Drax accepts that the process took a considerable time and was in consequence very stressful for Ms Ahmar. Drax, like Ms Ahmar, regrets that the employment ended unhappily. All parties are pleased that they can now move on.”

Drax spokesperson statement

“We are pleased that proceedings have come to an end with no finding of liability.

Drax is committed to being a responsible employer that takes all concerns raised seriously. We have a thorough process to ensure that all colleagues are treated respectfully, and in line with the standards we expect of all parties.

Allegations concerning Drax’s biomass sourcing were dealt with exhaustively through independent investigations and by the regulator, that found no evidence Drax’s biomass is not sustainable or that Drax has been issued with Renewable Obligation Certificates (ROCs) incorrectly.”

UK urgently needs more energy storage to avoid wasting wind power – report

20 March 2025

News

The report, commissioned by Drax with academics at Imperial College London, showed that Britain reached an historic energy milestone in 2024, with wind power becoming the country’s largest source of electricity at 31%, surpassing fossil fuels for the first time in 140 years.

Despite that, 8.3 terawatt-hours (TWh), around 10% of wind generated power produced, had to be curtailed due to grid congestion, costing consumers nearly £400 million. This energy, enough to power over two million homes, was effectively lost because the grid lacked the capacity to transport or store it.

Graph: The rise of wind power and wind curtailment.

Rapidly scaling up storage capabilities such as long-duration energy storage (LDES) and battery energy storage systems (BESS), alongside better grid infrastructure, would mean that excess wind power produced when demand is low could be stored and released it when needed, preventing the grid from relying too heavily on gas during ‘dunkelflaute’ periods. However, without investment and further policy support for these solutions, Britain risks wasting vast amounts of clean energy, the report warns.

Since the birth of the electricity system in the 1880s, coal, gas or oil has dominated Britain’s power generation. Coal held the top spot until the 1980s, when gas took over, but 2024 marks the first year in which a clean energy source has led the way.

“The rapid continued growth of wind power generation should give us cause for optimism on the journey towards clean energy, but that growth presents its own very real and different challenges” says Dr Iain Staffell of Imperial College London, the lead author of the quarterly Drax Electric Insights report series.

“Last year we saw a 17% reduction in emissions compared to 2023, but with more wind comes more intermittency. This was evident across the back end of 2024 and early 2025, with three separate periods of cold, calm weather – known as ‘dunkelflaute’ – exposing Britian’s reliance on costly imported energy and drawing down the nation’s gas storage to ‘concerningly low’ levels.

“Investment in intermittent renewables such as wind and solar is helping us reduce fossil fuel levels in our power generation mix, but without large-scale energy storage and grid upgrades, we will continue wasting clean energy and paying the price for it, especially during long cold snaps and windless conditions.” explains Dr. Staffell.

“With upgraded energy storage and the transmission infrastructure to transport it, we can go some way to ensuring that wind and other forms renewable energy are not wasted, instead moving that power to where it is needed as well as storing it for those periods of dunkelflaute which necessitate dispatchable generation.”

The curtailment of wind energy – where turbines are shut down when there is no capacity to transport their power – is rising at an unsustainable rate according to the Q4 report. In just one year, curtailment doubled from 5.5% to over 10%, largely due to Scotland’s wind farms producing more energy than the grid can carry south to demand centres in England.

“The UK government has set ambitious targets for energy storage and grid reinforcement, but the pace of deployment must accelerate to match the rapid growth of renewable generation.” said Ian Kinnaird, FlexGen Assets Director at Drax.

“Policy incentives, streamlined planning processes, and investment in medium and long-duration storage technologies will all be critical in ensuring Britain fully capitalises on its renewable energy sources. These issues remain crucial to us at Drax, with our run-of-river hydro plants and pumped hydro storage power station at Cruachan ready to support the flexible generation we need to see, in order to transition to a low-cost, clean power grid by 2030.”

For more information and to access the full report, visit Drax Electric Insights here.

Media contacts:

Kieran Wilson
E: [email protected] 
T: 07729092807

Notes to Editors

Case study

SeaGreen offshore wind farm, off of Scotland’s east coast, wasted an astonishing 70% of its output in 2024 because of grid congestion. The financial and environmental costs of such curtailment are mounting, underscoring the urgent need for solutions.

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.

Our future

Drax is progressing options for carbon removals using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology globally and at our UK biomass power station. We are progressing plans to develop 7 million tonnes of carbon removals through BECCS by 2030.

In 2024, we launched Elimini, a US-based company to lead our global efforts to deliver carbon removals at scale. Elimini’s purpose is to remove carbon for good. To achieve this, it is convening engineers, environmentalists, communities, investors, and innovators to scale the market for carbon removals, with the aspiration of transforming our economies from carbon emitters to carbon removers. For more information, visit elimini.com.

Drax launches enhanced approach to global sustainability

24 February 2025

News
  • Comprehensive strategy includes introduction of a new sustainability framework
  • Created in collaboration with a wide range of internal and external stakeholders
  • Company also outlines ambition to reach net zero by the end of 2040 across Drax’s value chain

Renewable energy company Drax has announced an enhanced approach to deliver on its global sustainability targets and to enhance the way it manages its impact on the climate, nature and people.

As part of this approach, a new sustainability framework has been developed in consultation with a wide range of stakeholders, including representatives from the scientific community, academics, employees, investors and eNGOs (environmental non-government organisations).

The plan includes 26 specific, measurable  and time-bound targets which will govern the business’ approach, helping to further improve how it interacts with key issues such as emissions reduction, forestry, biodiversity, water efficiency and supporting local communities.

Central to this is Drax’s ambition to reach net zero across its value chain by the end of 2040, including steps aimed at decarbonising its supply chains to prioritise the low carbon delivery of biomass fibre to Drax Power Station and moving forward with renewable power sources for its pellet plants.

Key initiatives included in the new sustainability framework include:

  • Community giving focused on providing STEM education and green skills training for people in under-served communities in the regions where Drax operates.
  • Automating digital data gathering to improve sourcing governance and traceability in the company’s supply chain
  • Implement nature positive action plans for Drax’s sites and develop plans for Drax’s priority biomass sourcing areas to help nature thrive by the end of 2030.
  • Continue to develop and evaluate options to permanently remove carbon from the atmosphere via Drax and Elimini’s carbon removals projects.
  • Deliver biodiversity enhancements across all Drax sites and take action to support biodiversity and ecosystem resilience in Drax’s value chain by the end of 2030.
  • Working to represent the communities Drax operates in and prioritising health and safety for all Drax colleagues.

Miguel Veiga-Pestana, Drax Group Chief Sustainability Officer, said:

“Our new sustainability framework signals a significant change in the way Drax manages its impact on the environment, communities and nature. Throughout the process we have listened to and learned much from the wide variety of stakeholders who have helped us develop this plan, which will be key to helping to ensure Drax can provide renewable biomass power generation as sustainably and responsibly as possible for years to come.”

“This launch is not the end of the process, however, it is just the start. In the coming months and years, the climate crisis will become more acute. The need for action will become greater, and the role of carbon removals will become even more important. That means we will have to work even harder to aim to ensure our operations help reduce humanity’s impact on the planet.”

ENDS

Notes to Editors

A link to Drax’s Sustainability Framework can be found here.

Media contacts:

Kieran Wilson
E: [email protected] 
T: 07729092807

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.

Our future

Drax is progressing options for carbon removals using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology globally and at our UK biomass power station. We are progressing plans to develop 7 million tonnes of carbon removals through BECCS by 2030.

In 2024, we launched Elimini, a US-based company to lead our global efforts to deliver carbon removals at scale. Elimini’s purpose is to remove carbon for good. To achieve this, it is convening engineers, environmentalists, communities, investors, and innovators to scale the market for carbon removals, with the aspiration of transforming our economies from carbon emitters to carbon removers. For more information, visit elimini.com.

Drax and Pathway Energy agree heads of terms on sustainable biomass deal to supply new US SAF plant

12 December 2024

News
  • Companies reach heads of terms for the supply and purchase of over 1 million tonnes of sustainable biomass pellets per annum for Pathway’s SAF project in Port Arthur, Texas
  • The plant will produce 30 million gallons of carbon negative jet fuel per year equivalent to more than 150 million gallons of carbon-neutral blended SAF
  • Agreement could also pave the way for Drax to become a strategic partner in the project and supply two additional Pathway SAF projects

UK-based renewable energy leader Drax Group (Drax), and Pathway Energy LLC (Pathway), a carbon negative energy company, have reached heads of terms on a multi-year deal that could see Drax supply over 1 million tonnes of sustainable biomass pellets each year to Pathway’s proposed sustainable aviation fuel (SAF) plant on the US Gulf Coast.

Under a separate agreement, Drax could also become a strategic partner in the project, with a potential investment in the form of a convertible loan note of up to $10 million. No investment decision has been taken by Drax at this stage.

The heads of terms reflect growing global demand for SAF, which usually can reduce carbon emissions by up to 80% when compared to traditional jet fuels. Modelling by the International Air Transport Association1, expects the global use of SAF to deliver 65% of the emissions reductions required for the aviation sector to reach net zero by 2050.

Once fully operational, the plant will be capable of producing 30 million gallons of carbon-negative SAF annually, the equivalent of enough fuel to power 5,000 carbon-neutral long-haul (10+ hour) flights per year.

Pathway will shortly begin Front End Engineering Design and anticipates that it will begin construction on the $2 billion plant in early 2026. Following construction, commercial SAF production is expected to commence in 2029.

Both companies also have a strategic interest in bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), a carbon removal and renewable power technology. Pathway intends to develop a BECCS system on the Port Arthur site which could remove 1.9 million tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year while powering the SAF facility and ensuring the jet fuel is carbon negative.

In the future, Drax could also potentially supply biomass to two additional Pathway projects, delivering a further 2 million tonnes of sustainable pellets per year to the business’ sites through the 2030s.

Will Gardiner, Drax Group CEO, said:

“This landmark deal has the potential to be the biggest third-party supply arrangement Drax’s pellet business has made. Demand for sustainable biomass is accelerating, with international businesses seeking long-term fuel supplies for a range of projects globally – including sustainable aviation fuel and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage.

“Reaching heads of terms on this deal with Pathway is an important step in the energy transition and for decarbonising the aviation sector through sustainable aviation fuel production, which Drax is proud to be a part of. We also share Pathway’s aim of scaling bioenergy with carbon capture and storage to deliver the carbon removals that the world needs to fight climate change.”

Steve Roberts, CEO and Founder of Pathway Energy, said:

“This innovative agreement catalyzes our aligned commitment with Drax to decarbonize the aviation industry and establishes the strategic alignment with Drax to deploy additional projects leveraging proven biomass conversion technologies, sustainable biomass feedstock, and carbon capture and sequestration. With a global scale supply of CORSIA-compliant biomass material, we are well-poised to address one of the hardest to abate industrial sectors through the production of carbon-negative sustainable aviation fuels.”

ENDS

Media contacts:

Andy Low
E: [email protected]
T: 07841 068415

Pathway Energy

Mission Control Communications for Pathway Energy
E: [email protected]

Editor notes

1 Modelling referenced here: https://www.iata.org/en/iata-repository/pressroom/fact-sheets/fact-sheet—alternative-fuels/

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 the world’s largest 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.

Our future

Drax is progressing options for carbon removals using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology globally and at our UK biomass power station.

In 2024, we launched Elimini, a US-based company to lead our global efforts to deliver carbon removals at megaton scale. Elimini’s purpose is to remove carbon for good. To achieve this, it is convening engineers, environmentalists, communities, investors, and innovators to scale the market for carbon removals, with the aspiration of transforming our economies from carbon emitters to carbon removers. For more information, visit elimini.com.

About Pathway Energy

Pathway Energy is a low carbon biomass to energy company that integrates sustainable carbon efficient conversion technologies, leveraging carbon sequestration, to produce sustainable aviation fuel. Our development platform combines a scalable carbon removal process pathway including BECCS, and Biomass with Carbon Removal and Storage to produce carbon-negative fuels. To learn more, visit https://pathwayenergy.com/.