Archives: Press Release

Drax and Loch Ken Trust strengthen partnership to deliver water safety and sustainability in Dumfries and Galloway

18 September 2025

News

Now entering its second year of a three-year commitment, the partnership has already expanded opportunities for young people to learn practical skills outdoors, strengthened safety on and around Loch Ken, and helped communities plan for the future.

In its first year, the partnership supported the launch and expansion of the Loch Ken Youth Water Safety Programme, which aims to ensure no young person leaves school without hands-on water safety training.

A total of 24 sessions were delivered to local schools and youth organisations including Dalbeattie High School, Wallacehall Academy, Castle Douglas High School, Kirkcudbright Academy, Kirkcudbright Sea Cadets and Dumfries Disability Sports. In total, 209 young people received training, with the programme winning praise from local MSP Emma Harper and being showcased in national guidance published by Water Safety Scotland. The Galloway Activity Centre was also awarded Paddle Award UK accreditation for its role in the delivery of the sessions, underlining the programme’s quality and impact.

The partnership also enabled Loch Ken Trust to provide an additional 260 ranger hours during peak season, including funding for a seasonal ranger to ensure patrol coverage across the summer months. This increase has improved visitor engagement, enhanced safety and helped protect the natural environment around Loch Ken.

Lindsay Stewart, Lock Ken Trust Manager said: “The support from Drax has been transformative. It’s enabled us to expand our water safety programme, grow our ranger service, and connect more young people with nature. Together, we’re making a real difference for local communities and the environment.”

As the partnership continues, both organisations remain committed to building on early successes and delivering a long-term positive impact for people and the natural environment of Dumfries and Galloway.

Education has been another major success of the partnership, with six sessions held for local primary schools and youth groups such as Crossmichael Primary, Dalry Primary, Glenkens Youth Group and Glenkens Cubs. More than 100 children took part in activities ranging from campfire safety and responsible camping to the Scottish Outdoor Access Code and invasive species awareness. Higher and further education students also benefitted, with 25 undergraduates and postgraduates from universities including Glasgow, Teesside, Lancaster and Exeter visiting the site for case studies and fieldwork on cold water shock, ecosystem monitoring and community sustainability.

“This partnership is a great example of how Drax works with local organisations to deliver on the goals set out in our sustainability framework.”, said Sarah Baird, Drax Community Manager for Scotland

“By supporting Loch Ken Trust, we’re helping to improve safety, resilience and environmental awareness in communities close to our operations. The first year has already achieved so much, and we’re excited to see what more can be delivered in year two” she added.

The partnership has also helped build resilience across the Glenkens, working with local organisations such as the Castle Douglas Development Forum to develop a resilience plan and host a community conference. Events like “How to Save a Life” encouraged volunteer engagement, while representatives from all eight Glenkens communities came together to share learning and strengthen preparedness for future challenges.

With the second year of the partnership already underway, Loch Ken Trust has delivered even more ranger hours, water safety training and nature-based education sessions. Plans for this year place an increasing emphasis on climate awareness and outdoor learning, ensuring that schools, youth groups and local communities continue to benefit from tailored support.

ENDS

Media contacts:

Kieran Wilson
E: [email protected]
T: 07729092807

Editor’s Notes

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 statement in response to Ofgem announcement of independent auditor

16 September 2025

News

Read the full Ofgem statement here

A spokesperson for Drax said: 

“We note that the appointment of an auditor into our historical biomass profiling data, agreed to at the time of the closure of the Ofgem investigation in August 2024, has been announced today. We fully support this independent external audit process, working with Forvis Mazars and Ofgem, to add further rigour and transparency to our profiling data reporting.

“We play a vital role in providing power when the sun doesn’t shine and wind doesn’t blow, so ensuring we are transparent about the sustainability of our biomass is an essential part of how we work.

“Following the competitive tender process to appoint an auditor, we are looking forward to working with Forvis Mazars and building on our programme of continual improvement.”

ENDS

Notes:
Ofgem’s investigation closure statement from August 2024 is available here: Ofgem Decision: investigation into Drax Power Limited | Ofgem  and Drax’s response available here.

Analysis – Solar surges as Britain records its cleanest quarter ever

10 September 2025

News

The report, produced by Imperial College London and commissioned by Drax, shows that the carbon intensity of Britain’s electricity fell below 100 grams of CO2 per kilowatt-hour for the first time between April and June. A decade ago, that figure was over 450 gCO2/kWh.

For households, the change means that everyday actions now leave only a fraction of the carbon footprint they once did. Boiling a kettle in 2025 now produces less than 10 grams of CO2, compared with over 40 grams in 2010.

The improvement has been helped by record levels of solar power. More than 3GW of new solar capacity has been added in the past two years, taking the UK total to almost 20 GW. That expansion, combined with the sunniest spring on record, saw solar supply over 40% of Britain’s electricity at peak in for the first time in May. In June, the grid recorded its cleanest day in history, with emissions averaging just 28 gCO2/kWh.

The findings also highlight how Britain’s power system is adapting to new patterns of supply and demand. Hotter, sunnier summers are already reshaping the grid, with solar producing record volumes while electricity demand rises for cooling. Managing these changes will require more flexible generation, storage, and stronger networks to balance supply and demand throughout the year.

“This data shows just how quickly Britain’s electricity mix is changing,” says Dr Iain Staffell, lead author of Electric Insights at Imperial College London.

“Solar generation is now making a visible dent in our national emissions, helping to drive the grid to its cleanest quarter on record.

“While these results are encouraging, we cannot underestimate the scale of the challenge. Hotter summers and rising demand for cooling are creating new pressures, and the curtailment of renewable power shows that our infrastructure is not yet keeping pace with supply. The next stage of our energy transition is about locking in the benefits of clean generation all year-round by expanding storage, strengthening the grid, and finding smarter ways to balance the system,” he added.

Ian Kinnaird, FlexGen Assets Director at Drax, said:

“The latest Electric Insights report demonstrates that Britain is moving in the right direction on clean power. Delivering the 2030 target will require a mix of solutions, from new renewables to storage and flexible technologies that keep the grid stable when the wind isn’t blowing and the sun isn’t shining. With the right investment, the UK can cut carbon, strengthen energy security, and create new opportunities for green growth.”

The report also notes that Britain’s power sector emissions are now lower than those from aviation, marking a dramatic turnaround from just a decade ago. If wind and solar farms had not been forced to curtail output when supply outstripped demand, renewables could already have covered all of Britain’s electricity needs for more than 250 consecutive hours in the past year.

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

ENDS

Media contacts:

Kieran Wilson
E: [email protected] 
T: 07729092807

Editor notes

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 partners with Groundwork Yorkshire to inspire young people through summer ‘Go Wild’ programmes in Selby and Goole

3 September 2025

News

Groundwork Yorkshire’s ‘Go Wild’ summer playschemes are designed to give children aged 7-11 the opportunity to learn new skills, make friends, and build confidence through fun and educational activities. The programmes ran throughout August in Goole’s West Park and Selby’s Community Centre playing fields, with an additional nature-focused day hosted at Drax’s Skylark Centre.

As part of the programme, Drax colleagues delivered interactive STEM sessions, including bottle rocket launches and bridge building, which proved a highlight for many participants. In Selby, the rocket-making workshop even drew in the whole park for a countdown, creating a memorable moment for the children and their families.

One of the children involved in the bottle rocket launch session

In total, five sessions were held across Selby and Goole, with more than 21 hours of activities delivered. Thanks to Drax’s support, the Goole group also enjoyed a day of outdoor adventure at the Skylark Centre, with activities including den building, orienteering and woodland games, made possible by funding for transport provided by Drax.

Groundwork Yorkshire has been running the Goole Go Wild scheme for the past four years, offering children from the local area a safe, fun and supportive environment during the summer holidays. This year’s partnership with Drax brought added focus on STEM inspiring young people to get curious about the world around them.

Amanda Scrimgeour, Programme Manager, Groundwork Yorkshire said: “Our scheme is structured to provide safe, fun, new learning opportunities for children, and we’ve done it once again! Drax’s community team engaged fully with the children, sparking their interest in STEM with rocket making and bridge building. The support from Drax made a huge difference to the young people’s summer, and we’re incredibly grateful for their involvement.”

Nick Robinson, Drax’s UK Community Manager, said: “We’re proud to support initiatives like ‘Go Wild’ that give young people in our local communities the chance to learn, explore and have fun during the summer holidays. It’s fantastic to see their enthusiasm for STEM activities like rocket building – experiences like these can spark an interest that stays with them for life. Partnering with Groundwork Yorkshire allows us to make a real difference to children’s confidence, wellbeing and aspirations.”

ENDS

Media contacts:

Kieran Wilson
E: [email protected]
T: 07729092807

Editor notes

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.

Artistic talents of Argyll’s school pupils on display as Cruachan celebrates its 60th anniversary

28 August 2025

News

The creative talents of Argyll’s young people have been on display at St Conan’s Kirk at a landmark art exhibition to mark the 60th anniversary of the iconic ‘Hollow Mountain’ Cruachan Power Station.

Around 200 pupils from local schools took part in an art competition earlier this year to design a card to mark the power station’s diamond anniversary. Cruachan was opened by the late Queen Elizabeth II on 15 October 1965 and has played a critical role in stabilising the UK’s power grid ever since.

Archive photographs depicting Cruachan’s incredible history from its beginnings in the 1950s to the present day were also part of the exhibition at St Conan’s Kirk.

Photo credit: John Devlin

Sarah Baird, Drax’s Scotland Community Manager said: “We had some amazing entries to the art competition to celebrate Cruachan’s special diamond anniversary. It was fantastic to see the breadth and depth of artistic talent that the region’s young people have.

“The exhibition enabled the whole community to not only see these fantastic works of art, but also to take a trip down memory lane with some of the wonderful archive images and stories on display as well.”

Joint Vice-Chair of St Conan’s Heritage Trust, Peter Hennessy, said: “St Conan’s is at the heart of the community here in Lochawe and we were delighted to host this fantastic exhibition. Around 50,000 people visit this historic church every year and it has been wonderful to see many of them this summer learn more about Cruachan and see the fantastic artwork that the area’s young people have created.”

The competition was divided into three age categories. Winners in each category received a framed print of their entry along with an Amazon voucher worth £100 for their personal use. In addition, their school was awarded a science, technology, engineering, and maths (STEM) grant of £2,000 by the power station’s owners Drax.

ENDS

Media contacts:

Aidan Kerr
E: [email protected]

Editor notes

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.

 

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.