Constant, tireless action
Across the UK, we’re taking action to deliver positive outcomes for climate, nature and people. Our time-bound sustainability targets help us demonstrate transparency in our plans, processes and operations.
Our main generation asset – Drax Power Station, near Selby in North Yorkshire – embodies this approach to sustainability:
Displacing higher carbon thermal generation, Drax Power Station will save around 4m tonnes of CO2e
Providing a habitat for over 100 species on and around the site
Employing around 1,000 people and providing enough power for 5m houses
Positive action, positive outcomes
Our Sustainability Framework outlines the 26 targets we’ve set and the related actions we’re taking across these three pillars. Underpinning this work is our commitment to sustainable biomass through our Biomass Sourcing Policy.
We also adhere to strict compliance, traceability and third-party certification standards.
Sustainable sites
Using our Sustainability Framework for guidance, we’re focused on delivering sustainable operations at Drax Power Station, at our hydro generation assets in Scotland, and throughout our commercial activities.
Our Sustainability Framework will be challenging to deliver – and we stand ready to play our part. Let’s take positive action.
Drax Power Station
As the largest power station in the UK, this plant provides the grid with enough power for five million homes.
The UK’s increasing reliance upon intermittent renewables such as wind and solar makes Drax Power Station a key part of the country’s energy infrastructure.
By providing essential power generation and system support services to the UK electricity grid, the plant enables the country’s energy system to meet demand – regardless of weather conditions.
In 2024, during peak demand periods, Drax Power Station produced – on average – 19% of the UK’s renewable power through its use of sustainable biomass. On certain days, that figure reached over 50%.
5%
UK’s power overall, 2024
19% on average
UK’s renewable power, 2024
Cruachan Power Station and other hydro assets
Cruachan is our pumped storage hydro plant with the capacity to power half a million homes and provide a wide range of system support services. Its ongoing £80m upgrade will add 40MW of additional capacity by 2027 and improve unit operations.
The combined capacity of our other hydro-electric schemes in Scotland (at Lanark and Galloway) is enough to power more than 400,000 homes.
0.5m homes
Cruachan’s current power generation capacity
40MW
Cruachan's additional capacity by 2027 following upgrade project
Commercial activities
Our Customers business – Drax Energy Solutions – supplies renewable power and decarbonisation services to industrial and commercial customers in the UK. Its services include electric vehicle (EV) infrastructure installation and fleet management solutions, energy optimisation, and the purchase of power exports from renewable generators.
We help customers achieve cost savings, reduce emissions, or even earn additional revenues. We sell renewable power as standard, support the transition of fleets to EVs, and our optimisation experts help organisations identify when and where they can turn their assets up, down, off or on. As well as benefiting our customers, these actions also contribute to the UK energy system being able to respond more efficiently and effectively to changes in demand.
In addition, our power purchase agreements with over 2,300 renewable electricity generators help to support the UK’s transition away from fossil fuels.
