A partnership between Drax, Energy Sparks and schools across the UK has won the Third Sector Business Charity Award for ‘Best Response to the Cost of Living Crisis’, recognising a three-year collaboration that has helped schools reduce energy costs, cut carbon emissions and improve climate education for thousands of young people.
The award celebrates the impact of projects funded through the Drax Foundation, supporting schools in underserved communities to become more energy efficient through energy-saving technology, education and behaviour change initiatives.
Since 2023, Drax has worked with Energy Sparks, a charity that helps schools reduce energy consumption through data-driven energy analysis tools and education programmes.
This year’s funding alone has enabled 150 schools to access Energy Sparks’ energy management tools, resources and education programmes at no cost, engaging up to 50,000 children. Participating schools are on track to save more than £1 million in energy bills and reduce CO2 emissions by 1,500 tonnes during the 2025/26 school year.
Shona King, Head of Social Impact at Drax said: “We’re incredibly proud that our partnership with Energy Sparks and schools across the UK has been recognised through the Third Sector Business Charity Awards.
“This collaboration is helping schools reduce costs at a time when budgets continue to face pressure, while also supporting pupils to develop a greater understanding of sustainability, energy efficiency and green skills. By combining practical energy-saving measures with education, we’re helping schools create lasting benefits for both their communities and the environment.”
Dr Claudia Towner, CEO and Programme Director at Energy Sparks, said: “The ongoing funding from the Drax Foundation will allow participating schools to embed energy saving behaviours across their school communities and provide more opportunities for children and young people to develop green skills.”
Alongside this, Drax has concluded a three-year programme installing LED lighting and solar panels in 54 schools located in communities where Drax operates across England and Scotland.
Between 2023 and 2025, participating schools reduced energy bills by a combined total of around £1 million while cutting carbon emissions by 1,684 tonnes CO2e. Schools taking part in the programme achieved an average annual reduction of 64% in electricity bills and a 62% reduction in CO2 emissions.
Bernadette McMillan, Head Teacher at Taynuilt Primary School, said: “The new LED lighting and solar panels will help us to save money on our energy bills, which is critical when the cost of fuel is so high. It’s also a great opportunity to engage the children about practical measures to address energy efficiency and climate change.”
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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.
