£250,000 worth of funding went to a wide variety of organisations who support to local communities, help to develop STEM (science, technology, engineering and maths) skills and support the transition to a net-zero future.
In Argyll and Bute, where Drax’s pumped storage hydro power station at Cruachan is located, a grant of £100,000 was awarded to ALIenergy – a charity working to prevent fuel poverty in the UK and support those who are affected by it.
“Funding from the Drax Foundation has helped us to increase both affordable warmth work and educational activities in Argyll and Bute. This work is much needed with energy prices still sky high and rural households in particular struggling with expensive forms of heating. The region is underserved in terms of facilities and this funding will help us with our goal of ensuring no individuals live in fuel poverty without access to affordable energy in Argyll and Bute.” said Lynda Mitchell, CEO of ALIenergy
In Galloway, where Drax operates it’s hydro-electric power scheme at six generating stations, the Kirkcudbright Dark Space Planetarium received £37,500 to support its work to promote awareness and understanding of science, technology and space exploration.
The donation directly supported accessible workshops and exhibitions for young people in the region, giving schoolchildren the chance to visit the planetarium and young people from deprived areas access to STEM learning.
Deb Findlay, Education Coordinator at Kirkcudbright Dark Space said: “Funding from Drax has helped our STEM Learning Programme expand in the last year, giving us the opportunity to put on new workshops, lectures and exhibitions and hire new staff members for the planetarium. These activities help young people from underprivileged areas in Dumfries & Galloway learn more about STEM and experience the renowned international dark sky park on their doorstep.”
Across the globe, Drax Foundation funding helped to reach over 25,000 young people with STEM and nature based activities. £3.6m worth of funding in total was donated in Canada, the US and the UK, with £2.91m awarded through the Drax Foundation, £695,000 via the Community Fund, and £11,500 donated through the Drax Crisis Fund, providing emergency aid in response to natural disasters, conflict, and other humanitarian crises.
Miguel Veiga Pestana, Chief Sustainability Officer at Drax said: “Building stronger communities in the areas where Drax operates is the driving force behind our social purpose. Through our charitable giving, we’re empowering individuals with the skills and resources they need to thrive, while also making a tangible contribution to a sustainable future.”
In 2024, the Drax Foundation’s funding:
- Led to a wide range of impactful outcomes, including 13,606 children participating in STEM education: 7,406 children and young adults taking part in nature-based education programs
- Provided funding for 8,836 people with access to improved community green spaces
- Gave financial and practical support to 2,800 UK households in ‘fuel poverty’ to help pay energy bills
- Helped 262 schools to reduce their energy costs and consumption with energy-efficient LED lighting, solar panel installation and / or energy efficiency monitoring tools and advice
- Funded 232 grassroots initiatives in the communities where Drax operates through the Drax Community Fund.
ENDS
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.
