Tag: sustainability

Jack Cunningham, Group Sustainability Director at Drax: “Bridging the gap between ideas and industry”

9 February 2026

Opinion

When business and academia shake hands, they don’t just bridge theory and practice – they step into a space where friction can spark breakthrough ideas.

But bringing those worlds together can sometimes feel awkward. Business tends to want quick answers, in simple terms. Academia thrives on nuance and complexity, so collaboration becomes both a challenge and opportunity.

I recently delved into this with Professor Patricia Thornley, newly appointed chief scientific adviser at the Department for Transport (DfT), an expert in bioenergy and green fuels, at the Drax Science Summit.

We talked about why it’s critical all-sides work to bring these worlds together and how we can make it happen. Here are my key takeaways:

1. Aligning incentives for sustained collaboration

As businesses we usually want answers rapidly, maybe even yesterday, and if not then certainly ahead of the next executive or quarterly board meeting. This isn’t where academics excel in adding value to business.

A better approach is to build lasting partnerships with academics. These may not provide quick results but, over the long term, they can keep you your business ahead of the curve, while providing academics with novel research opportunities.

The key is aligned incentives. We can provide stat hungry academics with interesting data sets, and in return gain innovation, credibility and long-term thinking. Prof Patricia shared some insights of her work as the Director of the Supergen Bioenergy Hub, a research hub that works with academia, industry and government to develop sustainable bioenergy systems. It’s a perfect example of the two worlds in synergy. She explained that business and academic participants in Supergen Bioenergy can bring mutually exclusive strengths to jointly think about problem-solving and innovative solutions.

Our partnership with Dr Iain Staffell at Imperial College on our Electric Insights project is another good example, with Iain providing the methodological and analytical vigour to pull our energy system data into meaningful insights that help inform decision making.

2. Preserving academic independence

As someone who facilitates this collaboration first-hand and understands how the cogs fit together, Patricia focused on the criticality of independence during our session.

For partnerships to be credible and productive, academics must retain the freedom to ask hard questions, publish honest results, and challenge assumptions. That independence is not a barrier to collaboration, but rather the foundation of trust and value.

This allows academics to step inside the businesses and understand the real-world and practical challenges they face, which in turn means rigorous research and better corporate decisions. Both sides benefit without sacrificing their core principles or priorities.

Drax has an Independent Advisory Board, made up of leading academics, which plays exactly this role. It’s also going to be critical to Patricia’s new role as chief scientific adviser at DfT, bringing independent academic insight into the hugely complex world of the UK’s transport networks.

Another way we’re working with academia is via a partnership with Brunel University that aligns with our nature positive commitments. We’re supporting their study into upcycling bottom ash from Drax Power Station as a potential method of carbon capture. While we receive updates on the work, we haven’t been involved in shaping the research as it remains independent.

3. Complexities in academic public life

The way we consume information has changed significantly over the last couple decades. We want everything, right now, in bitesize chunks. We’re always looking for our next click or scroll. While the business world tunes into this, it’s not an easy or comfortable space for academics to inhabit.

Adding to this, we operate in a highly complex business and political environment, where public debate often (probably too often) becomes emotionally charged. Academic experts feel threatened by this and for most their instinct will be to shy away. We all have a duty to put that trend in reverse, creating forums – like our science event – where those interactions can happen safely, and working together in an open, engaging and respectful way.

To wrap up my thoughts, we need to recognise that both sides – business and academia – need each other. We don’t need silos, we need collaboration. And it’s on all sides to bring research to life in a way that can be used for better decision making.

Alicia Newton, Senior Scientific Officer at Drax: “Here comes the science bit – concentrate!”

22 January 2026

Opinion

As Senior Scientist at Drax, it’s my job to bring the latest science into our business. My team and I are the “science bit”.

We take the latest scientific thinking on everything from sustainable biomass sourcing to electricity grid resilience and make sure it shapes how we think and operate as a business.

Science, by its nature, is dynamic and keeping a business at the leading edge is a full-time endeavour, requiring collaboration with the science and academic community, as well as Government and regulators.

This month we held our inaugural science summit, Positively Net Zero, which brought together these groups to assess the underpinning science and future science needed to deliver positive outcomes for people, climate, and nature in Yorkshire, the Humber and beyond.

Richard Gwilliam, our Future of DPS Director, speaking on a panel “Powering Net Zero Energy Transition, Industrial Clusters and a Just Transition in the North of England”

Here are my personal, 4 key takeaways from the event.

Jack Cunningham, our Group Sustainability Director, in conversation with Patricia Thornley of Aston University, during a fireside chat

  1. Science, industry, and government must align to achieve our climate and environment goals. It’s an obvious one, but critical if we’re going to meet our climate goals at lowest cost while also hitting other goals like nature restoration and economic growth. For example, we heard at the event how scientists and corporates have developed to innovative bio-based packaging to reduce plastic waste. But misalignment with existing infrastructure means the UK’s waste sector isn’t ready to handle it and it’s ending up in landfill or incinerators. A huge, missed opportunity.
  2. Decarbonising industrial clusters, like the Humber, will be a catalyst for social, economic and environmental change. Decarbonising industrial clusters like the Humber is achievable with existing technology, will make a material difference in the UK’s carbon emissions, and helps deliver a just transition for people and communities. But achieving decarbonisation requires a supportive policy environment to ensure that individual companies aren’t carrying all the risk and that communities can capture the economic benefit through localised value chains and secure employment.
  3. The right policy frameworks unlock private investment. The UK’s consultation on a common biomass sustainability framework was highlighted as a particularly welcome example of policy enabling industrial investment. Bioenergy is a key part of the UK’s low carbon energy mix and will play an increasingly important role in supporting the expansion of intermittent renewables. Clear, evidence-based guidance, informed by academic research, on how bioenergy operators should source sustainable biomass gives the industry the certainty they need to secure, grow, and innovate their supply chains.
  4. Corporates can meaningfully contribute to the recovery of nature. The discussion on nature has rightly shifted from do no harm to actively promoting biodiversity and nature gains. Leading regulation from the UK on biodiversity net gain is creating the investment required to fund land restoration and encouraging developers to make space for nature. All enabled by the rapid scientific development of sophisticated data packages and models and the distilling of that data into easy-to-use platforms for corporates and citizen scientists. A perfect example of the positive outcomes achievable when science, policy, and industry align.

Creating a forum for dissemination was the ambitious aim of our summit and judging from the lively discussions amongst panellists and during breaks, we more than achieved our aim. And we left the day with the recognition that it’s up to us to work together to deliver the promise held by the Humber and surrounding industrial clusters to deliver a just, nature positive, net zero future.

Featured image caption: Alicia Newton, Senior Scientific Officer at Drax, speaking during the event

How Wood Pellets Support Clean Energy Goals, Forests, and Communities

1 October 2025

Opinion

By Kyla Cheynet, Director of Sustainability, Drax

When we think of clean energy, solar panels and wind turbines often dominate the conversation, but as we work to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future, it’s going to take all clean energy industries working together. Biomass, in the form of wood pellets, has been quietly making a big impact by helping countries reduce carbon emissions, support sustainable forestry, and transition away from fossil fuels. 

What Are Wood Pellets? 

At Drax, we operate within the larger forest industry, making our wood pellets from sawmill residues and low-grade wood from the forest. Mill residuals come in the form of shavings, sawdust and chips, while material sourced from sustainable harvests comes from tree trunks, tops, and limbs which are too small or malformed to make sawtimber.  Wood that arrives in roundwood form is debarked and chipped on-site, with bark being used as fuel to dry the high-moisture chips and sawdust.  Once the fiber is dried it, is resized by “hammermills” into a very small particles which are then compressed under high pressure by “pellet mills” which cause the natural resins in the wood to bind together forming small wood pellets that look just like those used for pellet burning grills or home heating.  The wood pellets we produce are: 

  • Renewable: Sourced from sustainably managed forests and manufacturing residuals. 
  • Efficient: Low moisture content means high energy output. 
  • Easily transported: Pellets can be loaded on trucks, railcars, and ships with ease.  

Supporting Sustainable Forestry 

The forests that we source our biomass from are managed in accordance with best practices designed to support the health and growth of these forests over the long term.   We have strict criteria in place to ensure our fiber sourcing helps maintain or improve forest health, landscape-level carbon stocks, biodiversity, and forest-related values communities depend on.  

In the U.S. South, forest inventory has expanded rapidly in recent decades, largely due to improved forest management on private lands These vigorously growing forests are considered a wood basket to the world.  Active forest management is essential to maintaining the productivity and ecological value of these forests.  Thinning, an intermediate harvest aimed at reducing tree density, is essential to maintaining forest health. Thinning not only increases future sawtimber yields by allocating greater resources to “crop trees”, but also improves the forest’s resilience to pests, disease, and wildfire, all while enhancing understory plant diversity and wildlife habitat. 

Most trees removed during thinning operations are generally undersized or unsuitable for lumber, but they are ideal for producing wood pellets! In this way, the biomass market creates an incentive for managers to engage in practices that increase the health and vigor of forests on their land. 

Why Is This Important? 

At Drax, our mission is to help meet the world’s increasing demand for secure energy, sustainably. Sustainably sourced biomass plays an important role in supporting energy security as the world decarbonizes, displacing fossil fuels with renewable, dispatchable power that supports intermittent renewables like wind and solar.  

Biomass markets also bring business to rural communities. In addition to direct employment opportunities in manufacturing Drax’s operations supports hundreds of jobs throughout the larger forest industry in Mississippi. Drax pellet plants also create market opportunities for landowners hoping to generate a return on their forest investment.  Markets for low-grade biomass incentivize landowners to continue managing forests rather than converting or selling them off to other uses.  And we all benefit when forests remain forests!

To learn more about Drax’s impact in Gloster, Mississippi, visit www.drax.com/gloster  

Delivering positive action in our communities

16 May 2025

Opinion

Being a Chief Sustainability Officer makes me an optimist. I have a key part to play in how Drax embeds sustainability throughout the business, across our entire value chain, and that’s what gets me up every day.

For us at Drax, sustainability isn’t about words, it’s about action. Constant, tireless action to benefit climate, nature and people. It’s not just about our biomass sourcing, or the suppliers we choose to work with, or how we operate. It’s also about the impact we’re having in the communities where we operate.

Our commitment to be a good neighbour

Community investment is central to our commitment to be a good neighbour. We’re seeking to make tangible improvements to the lives and livelihoods of the communities we operate in through social investment, collaboration, education and long-term support.

One of the ways we do this is via the Drax Foundation and our Community Fund. Over the last 12 months we have invested more than ever before in our communities, disbursing £3.6m in charitable giving – a 33% rise from the previous year. This takes total investment to £6.3m since we launched the initiatives in 2023.

The Drax Foundation provides grant funding for non-profit organisations that improve access within underserved communities to science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) education, community green spaces, and measures to address fuel poverty and energy-efficiency.

The Community Fund compliments the Foundation by investing in grassroots organisations and volunteer-led initiatives that support the unique needs and challenges of our communities.

Giving support where it’s needed the most

At Drax we have a dedicated Community Affairs team to ensure our charitable giving is focused on where it’s needed the most. Over the last 12 months our funding is projected to benefit more than 98,000 people in the regions where Drax operates This includes 13,606 children with access to STEM education and 75 adults with ‘green’ skills training programmes.

For the past two years we’ve been working with Scientists in Schools in Canada, helping them to expand their STEM programming in the regions where Drax operates in British Columbia and Alberta. With a particular focus on engaging indigenous groups, this year we’ll build on this partnership by enabling another 3,000 young learners to participate.

We’ve supported nature projects as diverse as rainforest restoration with the Argyll Countryside Trust in the Scottish Highlands (yes, rainforests in Scotland!) and protection of priority bird habitats in the Southern US with the National Audubon Society. 2024 funding is projected to provide 8,836 people with access to improved community green spaces and enable 7,406 young people to participate in nature-based learning.

Across the UK we’re helping to reduce school energy bills and support those living in fuel poverty. We’ve funded energy efficiency improvements in over 260 schools near our operations in North Yorkshire, East Midlands, Scotland and East of England, and we’ve worked with partners to support 2,800 households in ‘fuel crisis’ so that they can receive financial and advisory support to keep the lights and heating on.

The range and diversity of projects we support is vast, but what they all have in common is that they fit within our wider business objective to deliver positive outcomes for the climate, nature and people.

What’s to come

For 2025, Drax’s major focus is sustainability. Continuing to partner with and invest in our communities is a key pillar of our new sustainability approach. To build on this commitment, we have pledged a further £1.5m to support 63 projects across our communities, working to enhance nature spaces, empower children and adults with STEM, and provide energy saving support. Within this we’re also addressing the unique needs of our communities through funding, outreach and direct engagement. We’ll share more soon on the progress of these projects.

We believe the energy transition should benefit everyone, and we believe in creating opportunities. For the year ahead, I look forward to how we can keep enhancing our positive social impact, listening and contributing to communities wherever we operate. It takes collaboration, determination and willingness to learn. Let’s take positive action.

Find out more in our latest Drax Foundation Annual Review

The impact of BECCS Done Well on Drax

14 May 2025

Opinion

BECCS Done Well findings

In late 2022 a report authored by Jonathon Porritt and his High Level Panel, concerning how bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) can be implemented in ways that have a positive impact on climate, nature and people, was published. The report, entitled , ‘BECCS Done Well’, outlines 30 conditions required for BECCS to deliver positive outcomes. We published a first response to the report in July 2023, and subsequently a more detailed and final response in April 2024. During the 18 months between report publication and our final response, BECCS Done Well and its 30 conditions not only stirred many invaluable discussions within and amongst teams, it also inspired mindsets and has been embedded in decision-making processes.

Here are some of the commitments we’ve made and how we’re meeting those

We committed to compiling an Evidence Hub sharing scientific evidence underpinning BECCS scale up, to be consistently updated with the latest scientific findings. In the last month we’ve published our new Evidence Hub on the Drax website, including four papers, and with more to come.

Climate Positive

  • Only sourcing from catchments where our activity, alongside others in the area, collectively has a neutral or positive effect on carbon stocks at a timescale appropriate to the ecosystem and its current condition.
    • We’re actively developing a forest carbon appraisal methodology and will have this completed by end of year as we committed in the Sustainability Framework.
  • Avoiding Enhanced Oil Recovery (EOR).
    • We remain committed to not capturing carbon for EOR by screening out EOR only projects in our new-build BECCS selection process and ensuring that this commitment is reflected in the selected BECCS carbon crediting methodology. We’ve also commissioned a study on the use of mass balance for shared transportation infrastructure. Where our CO2 will be transported in shared infrastructure (e.g. pipelines serving multiple emitters, geological stores and EOR projects) a mass balance accounting approach ensures that for every ton of CO2 we put into the system a ton goes to permanent geological storage.

People Positive

  • Developing Community Advisory Panels in some areas local to our North American operations.
    • Community Advisory Panels, starting in Gloster, USA, have been launched by the Community team, with more locations to come. A new First Nations Advisory Council is now also up and running in Canada, and we’ve developed an Indigenous Peoples Policy to codify best practice in our activities.
  • Seeking to establish resolution (grievance) mechanisms for our operational sites.
    • A new grievance mechanism is under development by the Community team.

Nature Positive

  • Identifying baselines for biodiversity and ecosystem functioning for the land we own, manage and/or buy from, and use this information to support biodiversity across our sites and in our value chain.
    • We’ve been working with NatureServe, a leading authority on biodiversity, to establish a biodiversity baseline for our sourcing areas in the US South East.
  • Establishing processes for studying and mitigating impact on nature.
    • We’ve progressed our review of nature related dependencies, impacts, risks and opportunities aligned to the Taskforce for Nature Related Financial Disclosures (TNFD) at our operations.
    • We’ve published our first Nature Positive Action Plan for Drax Power Station internally, with corresponding plans for other locations coming soon.

The above examples are only a handful of the actions we’re taking to follow through on these commitments we made with a lot of work being done behind the scenes.

What we’ve learned

The response process to the BECCS Done Well report enabled sustainability focused discussions across the business, and brought multiple functions together to discuss how we can achieve positive outcomes through our operations. Our internal and external conversations set us up well to discuss and develop the Sustainability Framework targets, helping us advance towards an action plan keeping us accountable.

We’ve codified the BECCS Done Well commitments, and more, through the new Sustainability Framework and the updated Biomass Sourcing Policy. As we move forward, we’ll continue to work together to make positive action and hold ourselves accountable to our commitments.

Leading the way with transparency and action

11 March 2025

Opinion
Two Drax workers in forest

  • Voluntary reporting for Drax’s EU Taxonomy alignment shows why we must keep leading on sustainable finance
  • Our upgraded CDP scores further underline our credentials for best practice in both strategy and action

Sustainability shapes how we operate at Drax. It provides our stakeholders with the trust they need as we demonstrate how we strive to provide secure, renewable energy to millions of homes and businesses, in a responsible way.

That is why we are pleased to hit another significant milestone in our ongoing sustainability journey, with the release of our first ever EU Taxonomy Report.

The report reflects our deep commitment to sustainability and highlights our continued work towards aligning ourselves with the European Union’s sustainability goals. In terms of results, the report shows that 71% of Drax’s revenue qualifies as eligible and aligned with the Taxonomy, with 99% of that aligned revenue meeting sustainability principles.

But what is it? EU Taxonomy is a classification system that was created by the European Commission, to define which economic activities contribute to environmental sustainability. It serves as a core part of the EU’s sustainable finance framework, guiding investment flows towards activities that align with the EU’s Green Deal and its broader climate goals.

It’s essentially a roadmap for companies and investors to understand what qualifies as environmentally sustainable. For businesses like Drax, aligning with the EU Taxonomy is essential, as it reinforces our ambition to help tackle climate change while maintaining strong financial performance.

So, why is the EU Taxonomy so important in the context of Drax’s sustainability journey? It’s because the system establishes clear guidelines and benchmarks aimed at ensuring that investment is directed towards activities that contribute meaningfully to environmental sustainability.

It plays a crucial role in accelerating the transition to a green economy and helps companies like Drax with their ambitions to meet their global sustainability targets. By aiming to align what we do with the EU Taxonomy, we aim to ensure that our operations, revenue generation, and financial models support these crucial climate objectives.

The results of our first EU Taxonomy Report demonstrate how far we’ve come in our sustainability efforts. The headline figure that 99% of our eligible revenue meets the sustainability criteria is a source of pride. This is a strong affirmation of our long-term dedication to environmental stewardship and is a significant achievement.

Compared to the broader business landscape, our results are an extraordinary achievement. A 2024 report from EY, that used a sample of 307 European companies non-financial disclosures, showed that the average EU Taxonomy alignment for turnover was 10% across all sectors, with the energy and power sector rising to 37%. For Drax, this rises even further to 71%, positioning us as a leader in taxonomy-aligned sustainability principles.

The reason for this alignment is simple: Drax has made intentional and strategic decisions over the years to transition our business towards renewable energy, with the most notable being the transition from coal to biomass at Drax Power Station.

However, achieving alignment with the EU Taxonomy goes beyond just ticking the necessary boxes. We’re focused on aiming to exceed the minimum standards set out by the taxonomy. The fact that 71% of our revenue is fully aligned with the EU Taxonomy speaks to the forward-thinking strategies that we have put in place.

One of the key pillars of sustainability at Drax is our focus on forestry, specifically how we manage and source biomass. Forests are a crucial component of the global carbon cycle. As part of our commitment to achieve net zero by the end of 2040 across our value chain, we endeavour to source our biomass from sustainably managed forests and must be mindful of the impact our activities have on biodiversity, carbon sequestration, communities, and forest health.

This is where the importance of our CDP (Carbon Disclosure Project) scores come in and these act like a snapshot of a company’s performance on environmental action. Their annual reports provide valuable insights into a company’s efforts to reduce emissions and manage natural resources responsibly, using voluntarily disclosed data to provide a score based upon three main critical areas: greenhouse gas emissions, water management, and deforestation.

We have worked hard on these areas, to demonstrate our dedication and progress towards climate action to our investors and other stakeholders. We have maintained our A- CDP climate score and alongside this our CDP Forests score was upgraded to A-. For the first time this positions Drax in the highest ‘leadership’ banding of CDP scores, recognising best practice for both strategy and action, and ranking Drax in the leading group of FTSE businesses.

The upgraded CDP score for forestry reflects our ongoing efforts to aim to ensure that our biomass sourcing practices do not contribute to deforestation or degradation of ecosystems. By sourcing from responsibly managed forests, we aim to ensure that our biomass is part of a sustainable, circular process where forest health is maintained and enhanced.

We recognise that both environmental sustainability as measured by the EU Taxonomy and our evolving CDP scores will require consistent work to maintain and improve. Alongside this we have developed a new sustainability framework, in consultation with a variety of different groups including representatives from the scientific community, academics, employees, investors and environmental NGOs.

But this holistic approach must be seen as the starting point of a journey. With the climate crisis becoming an even bigger threat to our planet, we must redouble our efforts. That means open and frank conversations with internal and external stakeholders where possible and concerted efforts to decarbonise our supply chain. It also means continuing to prioritise the rigorous standards of best practice measured by mechanisms such as EU taxonomy and CDP ratings. These pillars will be the key to proving that Drax can keep the lights on for millions of people using sustainable biomass generation, responsibly.

Drax is taking positive action to deliver secure clean power and climate goals

23 January 2025

Opinion
Foresters in working forest, Mississippi

This article first appeared in BusinessGreen.

By Miguel Veiga-Pestana, Chief Sustainability Officer, Drax Group 

Miguel Veiga-Pestana, Chief Sustainability Officer, Drax Group

Drax divides opinion. Some recognise the critically important role we play in generating renewable power which keeps the lights on for millions. Others argue that we are not ‘green enough’ and need to do more to demonstrate that we are part of the solution to tackling the existential threat of climate change.      

We know that no organisation is immune from criticism and challenge and nor should they be, and this is particularly true for the energy industry. Our work sits at the intersection of some of our most critical economic, social and environmental issues like enabling growth, better productivity and job creation and reducing global warming. 

Since the Ukrainian conflict and the ongoing uncertainty around investments needed to achieve net zero, energy has overtaken many other sectors in the controversy stakes. From nuclear to renewable power, our screens are filled every day with reasons to question the role that these different technologies can play in all our lives.  

The UK Government’s Clean Power Action Plan sets out a positive roadmap to deliver more renewable electricity while addressing the daily pressures that people in this country feel. To meet these goals industry, government and civil society must work together and listen to one another. Without this collaboration the prospects of tackling climate change while delivering energy security are bleak. 

2024 was the 50th anniversary of Drax Power Station helping power the UK. We converted our site, formerly Western Europe’s largest coal fired power station, to generate renewable energy with biomass, making it the largest single source of clean power in the country. We are rightly proud of the contribution the power station continues to make, securely powering homes no matter the weather.    

However, in recent years, the polarisation of the debate around the use of bioenergy has become so loud that it frequently drowns out constructive discussion. 

Drax is a fast-growing business, in a rapidly evolving sector that relies on the natural world to operate. And we have a strong desire to contribute to decarbonising our society, to protecting and enhancing nature, as well as to providing renewable energy and carbon removals to those industries which can’t otherwise reach net zero. 

We recognise that some people have concerns about our operations. We understand that we need to do more to demonstrate that the biomass we use is genuinely sustainable and that we are taking the necessary steps to operate our business responsibly. We are listening to these concerns and we are determined to learn from them by taking positive action to provide greater transparency about our plans, processes and operations.  

That’s why this year will see us make changes to further integrate sustainability across our operations. We are developing this new approach in consultation with experts to ensure that we’re on the right path to being climate, nature and people positive.  

The launch of this new approach will not be the end of the journey either. It will be the start. We are committed to continuing this external engagement so we can continually improve our company. 

The centrepiece of this will be a new sustainability framework underpinning our operations.  

This includes making new investments in satellite technology, to deliver even more accurate measurements of the carbon stored in our sourcing areas, along with automating our data gathering to improve sourcing governance and traceability, so that our raw materials can be traced digitally.  

We are also exploring implementing nature positive action plans for our sites and our supply chain to help nature thrive. And for our neighbouring communities, we are looking to fund STEM education and green skills training for 500,000 people. Additionally, we will target a continued reduction in supply chain emissions for Drax Power Station.  

This new approach will be rightly challenging for us to deliver.  We hope it will show that we are listening whilst also disentangling fact from fiction. We stand ready to play our part in delivering the secure clean energy the UK needs.    

Newsweek Pillars of the Green Transition interview with Drax CEO, Will Gardiner

18 November 2024

Opinion

This interview appeared first in Newsweek Investment Reports.

Given the recent energy challenges in Europe, especially since the war in Ukraine, how do you view Drax’s transition from fossil fuels to biomass? Do you believe this model is scalable and reliable enough to meet Europe’s long-term energy demands amidst geopolitical instability?

The war in Ukraine has demonstrated how critical biomass can be as an alternative energy source and its role in the energy transition. While solar and wind are often seen as the core renewable energy technologies, they aren’t always reliable, especially when there’s no wind or sun. Biomass serves as an essential solution that offers the same stability and reliability as coal but without the associated CO2 emissions. It provides critical ancillary services to the grid, like inertia and reactive power, similar to large-scale thermal plants, making it a valuable asset in ensuring energy supply.

However, it’s important to recognize that biomass should not be the primary energy source. Its usage must be sustainable, meaning there have to be clear rules on sourcing feedstock. At Drax, our transition from coal to biomass has been guided by strict sustainability requirements, ensuring that the biomass we use is renewable and responsibly sourced.

Can you briefly explain what biomass is and how it fits into Drax’s operations?

Biomass involves using sustainable wood pellets instead of fossil fuels to generate power. Drax, originally the largest coal-fired power station in Western Europe, underwent a significant transformation over the past two decades to switch from coal to biomass. Today, instead of burning coal, we use around 7 to 8 million tons of wood pellets annually, primarily sourced from the southeastern U.S. and western Canada.

The transition involved building a new supply chain tailored to biomass, which includes customized storage, logistics, and transport processes. Once the biomass reaches our power station, it’s used in the boilers to generate electricity in a way that’s similar to coal-fired generation, but with a much lower carbon footprint.

Drax has set a goal to be carbon negative by 2030. How do you plan to achieve this, and what role will carbon capture and storage play in the process?

Biomass is already a low-carbon power generation method, but by incorporating carbon capture and storage (CCS), we can take it a step further. Our plan is to install carbon capture units at our UK power station starting in 2027, with the goal of being fully operational by 2030. This technology will capture the CO2 emissions that come out of the power station and store them under the North Sea, effectively making our operations carbon negative.

Once fully operational, this process will remove 4 million tons of CO2 annually from the atmosphere. To put this into perspective, capturing 8 million tons of CO2 is equivalent to installing heat pumps in every home in Birmingham, the UK’s second-largest city.

How do you ensure that the biomass you source is sustainable and doesn’t contribute to deforestation?

The sustainability of biomass hinges on it being a renewable resource. This means that the CO2 absorbed by trees as they grow is released when we burn the pellets but is reabsorbed by new trees, maintaining a balanced cycle within the biosphere. Unlike fossil fuels, which release CO2 that’s been locked in rocks for millions of years, biomass doesn’t add new carbon to the atmosphere.

To ensure sustainability, all our biomass is sourced from forests that are actively regenerating, with no contribution to deforestation. In fact, the forests we source from are required to have increasing or stable carbon stocks. In the southeastern U.S., where most of our pellets come from, carbon stocks have been steadily growing since the 1950s. Additionally, strict limits are in place for CO2 emissions throughout the supply chain, from pellet production to transport, ensuring that biomass remains a low-carbon process.

Our sourcing practices are also rigorously documented and regulated, ensuring compliance with UK government standards. Importantly, the majority of our feedstock comes from byproducts such as sawdust and shavings from sawmills, contributing to a more well-managed forest ecosystem.

How do you integrate biomass with other renewable energy sources to create a reliable energy mix?

The UK’s energy system relies on a mix of different fuels, including wind, solar, gas, biomass, and hydro. Each source plays a different role in ensuring energy stability. For instance, on a sunny day with light wind, around a quarter of the UK’s power might come from solar, 13% from wind, 25% from gas, and 8% from biomass.

Biomass is unique because it’s a renewable, dispatchable energy source, meaning it can be turned up or down based on demand. This flexibility is crucial for maintaining a balanced energy system, especially when wind and solar aren’t generating power.

Drax’s strategy focuses on providing dispatchable renewable power to support the grid when other sources aren’t available, ensuring a reliable and stable energy supply.

As biomass continues to expand, particularly in North America, how do you plan to scale up operations, and what challenges do you anticipate for the industry?

The history of biomass power generation, especially over the last 25 years, has largely been about replacing coal, which is one of the most carbon-intensive fuel sources. As wind and solar become more affordable and widespread, the role of biomass will evolve. The next generation of biomass power stations will likely integrate carbon capture and storage, enabling biomass to act as a source of carbon removal.

For Drax, our plan is to build biomass power stations in the U.S. with integrated carbon capture and storage technology, which offers two key benefits: 24/7 green power and significant carbon removal. This combination is crucial for achieving net zero and meeting the growing demand for sustainable power, especially as technologies like AI drive increased energy consumption.

Why do you think biomass, despite being a significant part of the energy mix, isn’t as well-known as wind or solar energy?

Biomass tends to be more geographically specific. It’s an important part of the energy transition in countries like the UK, Germany, Denmark, and the Netherlands, where sustainable forestry is prevalent. In regions with fewer forests, like Southern Europe, it’s less common. Moreover, in places with consistent sunshine, like the Middle East, solar energy paired with batteries is often more viable. The visibility and relevance of biomass vary based on regional resources and energy needs.

How significant will carbon capture be in reducing emissions, and when do you think it will become a scalable solution?

Carbon capture is poised to play a crucial role in reducing emissions. The technology is proven and has been used by oil and gas companies for many years. The shift toward making carbon capture a viable business solution has gained momentum, particularly after COP26, with major players in the energy sector investing in this technology.

There are also growing incentives in countries like the U.S., Sweden, and Denmark, making carbon capture economically viable. By 2030, we expect to see the first significant projects, including ours in the UK and the U.S., with broader adoption occurring by the mid-2030s.

How do you educate the public about carbon capture and ensure they understand its importance in achieving net zero?

The need to achieve net zero is now widely accepted by the public and business leaders alike, especially as climate events like hurricanes, floods, and droughts continue to highlight the urgency of the situation. However, it’s crucial to convey that simply reducing emissions won’t be enough—we must also remove CO2 from the atmosphere to reach net zero.

We spend considerable time working with governments to ensure they understand this narrative, as government support is vital for driving the adoption of carbon capture technology. Once governments are on board, it becomes easier to communicate this message to the public, making carbon capture a more integral part of the green energy transition.

The key to sustainable forests? Thinking globally and managing locally

1 December 2022

Opinion

Key takeaways:

  • Working forests, where wood products are harvested, are explicitly managed to balance environmental and economic benefits, while encouraging healthy, growing forests that store carbon, provide habitats for wildlife, and space for recreation.
  • But there is no single management technique. The most effective methods vary depending on local conditions.
  • By employing locally appropriate methods, working forests have grown while supporting essential forestry industries and local economies.
  • Forests in the U.S. South, British Columbia, and Estonia all demonstrate how local management can deliver both environmental and economic wins.

Forests are biological, environmental, and economic powerhouses. Collectively they are home to most of the planet’s terrestrial biodiversity. They are responsible for absorbing 7.6 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalent per year, or roughly 1.5 times the amount of CO2 produced by the United States on an annual basis. And working forests, which are actively managed to generate revenue from wood products industries, are important drivers for the global economy, employing over 13 million people worldwide and generating $600 billion annually.

But as important as forests are globally, the key to maximizing working forests’ potential lies in smart, active forest management. While 420 million hectares of forest have been lost since 1990 through conversion to other land uses such as for agriculture, many working forests are actually growing both larger and healthier due to science-based management practices.

The best practices in working forests balance economic, social, and environmental benefits. But just as importantly, they are tailored to local conditions and framed by appropriate regional regulations, guidance, and best-practice.

The following describes how three different regions, from which Drax sources its biomass, manage their forests for a sustainable future.

British Columbia: Managing locally for global climate change

British Columbia is blanketed by almost 60 million hectares of forest – an area larger than France and Germany combined. Over 90% of the forest land is owned by Canada’s government, meaning the province’s forests are managed for the benefit of the Canadian people and in collaboration with First Nations.

From the province’s expanse of forested land, less than half a percent (0.36%) is harvested each year, according to government figures. This ensures stable, sustainable forests. However, there’s a need to manage against natural factors.

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In 2017, 2018, and 2020 catastrophic fires ripped through some of British Columbia’s most iconic forest areas, underscoring the threat climate change poses to the area’s natural resources. One response was to increase the removal of stands of trees in the forest, harvesting the large number of dead or dying trees created by pests that have grown more common in a warming climate.

By removing dead trees, diseased trees, and even some healthy trees, forest managers can reduce the amount of potential fuel in the forest, making devastating wildfires less likely. There are also commercial advantages to this strategy. Most of the trees removed are low quality and not suitable for processing into lumber. These trees can, however, still be used commercially to produce biomass wood pellets that offer a renewable alternative to fossil fuels. This means local communities don’t just get safer forests, they get safer forests that support the local economy.

The United States: Thinning for healthier forests

The U.S. South’s forests have expanded rapidly in recent decades, largely due to growth in working forests on private land. Annual forest growth in the region more than doubled from 193 million cubic metres of wood in 1953 to 408 million cubic meters by 2015.

This expansion has occurred thanks to active forest product markets which incentivise forest management investment. In the southern U.S. thinning is critical to managing healthy and productive pine forests.

Thinning is an intermediate harvest aimed at reducing tree density to allocate more resources, like nutrients, sunlight, and water, to trees which will eventually become valuable sawtimber. Thinning not only increases future sawtimber yields, but also improves the forest’s resilience to pest, disease, and wildfire, as well as enhancing understory diversity and wildlife habitat.

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While trees removed during thinning are generally undersized or unsuitable for lumber, they’re ideal for producing biomass wood pellets. In this way, the biomass market creates an incentive for managers to engage in practices that increase the health and vigour of forests on their land.

The results speak for themselves: across U.S. forestland the volume of annual net timber growth 36% higher than the volume of annual timber removals.

A managed working forest in the US South

Estonia: Seeding the future

Though Estonia is not a large country, approximately half of it is covered in trees, meaning forestry is integral to the country’s way of life. Historically, harvesting trees has been an important part of the national economy, and the government has established strict laws to ensure sustainable management practices.

These regulations have helped Estonia increase its overall forest cover from about 34% 80 years ago to over 50% today. And, as in the U.S. South, the volume of wood harvested from Estonia’s forests each year is less than the volume added by tree growth.

Sunrise and fog over forest landscape in Estonia

Sunrise and fog over forest landscape in Estonia

Estonia has managed to increase its growing forest stock by letting the average age of its forests increase. This is partially due to Estonia having young, fast-growing forests in areas where tree growth is relatively new. But it is also due to regulations that require harvesters to leave seed trees.

Seed trees are healthy, mature trees, the seeds from which become the forest’s next generation. By enforcing laws that ensure seed trees are not harvested, Estonia is encouraging natural regeneration of forests. As in the U.S. South protecting these seed trees from competition for water and nutrients means removing smaller trees in the area. While these smaller trees may not all be suitable for lumber, they are a suitable feedstock for biomass. It means managing for natural regeneration can still have economic, as well as environmental, advantages.

Different methods, similar results

Laws, landownership, and forestry practices differ greatly between the U.S. South, British Columbia, and Estonia, but all three are excellent examples of how local forest management contributes to healthy rural economies and sustained forest coverage.

While there are many different strategies for creating a balance between economic and environmental interests, all successful strategies have something in common: They encourage healthy, growing forests.