Archives: Press Release

MOL Drybulk and Drax launch green shipping initiative

11 July 2022

News
  • Drax and MOL Drybulk partner to develop wind power technology that will reduce biomass shipping emissions by a fifth
  • Newly built vessels will be fitted with MOL’s Wind Challenger hard sail technology, with first ship expected as soon as 2025
  • The initiative is part of Drax’s plans to reduce its supply chain emissions and become carbon negative by 2030 using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS)

The companies plan to facilitate the development of wind-powered vessels to transport bulk cargoes of Drax’s wood pellets to its customers in Japan, where the biomass is used to generate reliable, renewable energy, which displaces fossil fuels.

EFBC-1 (Wind Challenger and Rotor sails)

The newly built vessels will be fitted with MOL’s Wind Challenger hard sail technology, with the first ship expected to be on the water as soon as 2025.

The initiative is part of Drax’s plans to further reduce supply chain emissions in line with its world-leading ambition to be a carbon negative company by 2030, by using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS).

Drax Group Chief Executive Will Gardiner said:

Drax Group CEO Will Gardiner

“MOL Drybulk’s hard sail technology has the potential to transform the maritime industry, cutting emissions and fuel costs and supporting global efforts to address the climate crisis.

“This partnership to advance this crucial new technology will support Drax’s commitment to reduce its own supply chain emissions and could also deliver far-reaching benefits across a number of different sectors that rely on ships to carry goods to customers around the world.”

Under the Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), the two companies will study the feasibility of deploying a first and second generation Environmentally Friendly Bulk Carrier (EFBC) to carry Drax’s biomass.

The first EFBC will use MOL’s automated telescopic hard sail technology – Wind Challenger, and will evaluate the application of other technologies including rotor sails.

The second EFBC aims to at least halve emissions with new vessel designs that use multiple Wind Challenger sails, other low-carbon technologies in development and the use of alternative fuels such as ammonia, liquefied natural gas and synthetic fuels.

Kazuhiko Kikuchi, President and Representative Director of MOL Drybulk said:

Kazuhiko Kikuchi, President and Representative Director of MOL Drybulk

“MOL has been working with our partners to develop the Wind Challenger technology for over a decade, and it’s great to see this become a reality.”

“We are extremely excited to work together with an innovative company such as Drax. This partnership will help us have a positive impact on how wood pellets and other cargoes are transported across the world.”

MOL Drybulk’s work will include developing the technologies that will be used and liaising with the shipyard where the vessel will be built and fitted with the hard sail technology. Drax will work with the ports and terminals in the supply chain on the operational feasibility studies.

The MoU with MOL Drybulk follows Drax’s previous work with the Smart Green Shipping Alliance to look at the potential of fitting innovative sail technology on ships transporting biomass from the US to the UK.

ENDS

Top image caption: Image of the vessel fitted with Wind Challenger technology that will be launched later this year

Video: https://youtu.be/yXbvG6VrwNc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzMY2FFogzQ

Media contacts: 

Selina Williams
Drax Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: +44 (0)7912 230 393

MOL Drybulk
ICT Communication Team
E: [email protected]

Editor’s Notes

  • International shipping is the backbone of the global economy, transporting about 90% of global trade volumes. The sector produces around 940 million tonnes of CO2 a year – around 2.5% of the world’s total CO2
  • Drax has already cut emissions from its fossil fuel generation by over 95% since 2012 and is targeting further reductions for its remaining emissions, including in its supply chain.
  • Drax reports its supply chain emissions in its Annual Report, which is independently audited.
  • Drax’s biomass comes from sustainably managed working forests. It includes the residuals left behind after harvesting activities for other sectors such as construction and furniture, as well as sawmill residues and thinnings.
  • MOL Drybulk is a 100% subsidiary of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines Ltd. (MOL)
  • MOL has set out its plans to reach net zero by 2050

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Drax’s around 3,000 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties. For more information visit www.drax.com

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

The Group also aims to build on its BECCS innovation at Drax Power Station with a target to deliver 4Mt of negative CO2 emissions each year from new-build BECCS outside of the UK by 2030 and is currently developing models for North American and European markets.

Pellet production and supply:

The Group has 17 operational pellet plants and developments with nameplate production capacity of around 5 million tonnes a year once developments are complete.

Drax is targeting 8Mt of production capacity by 2030, which will require the development of over 3Mt of new biomass pellet production capacity. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet plants supply biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses and also to customers in Europe and Asia.

Customers: 

Drax supplies renewable electricity to UK businesses, offering a range of energy-related services including energy optimisation, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.

To find out more go to the website www.energy.drax.com

About MOL Drybulk

MOL Drybulk Ltd. is a 100% Subsidiary company of Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, and is a unique entity operating vessels ranging from 10,000DWT up to 100,000DWT bulk carriers, wood chip carriers and multi-purpose vessels, with the aim to provide a “one-stop service” to the customers, work collaboratively to meet their needs and provide environmental solutions to reduce the GHG emissions throughout the supply chain.

About Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL)

Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Ltd. (MOL), as a global marine transport group, operates a global fleet exceeding 700 vessels, including tankers, bulkers, car carriers, ferries, which also extends to offshore projects. Under the “MOLGROUP Environmental Vision 2.1” established in June 2021, MOL clarifies its commitment to achieve sustainable “Net Zero GHG Emissions” by 2050 through collective efforts with all capabilities within the group.

The “Wind Challenger”

The Wind Challenger Project started in 2009 with the “Wind Challenger Plan,” an industry-academia joint research project led by The University of Tokyo, and in January 2018, MOL and Oshima Shipbuilding took charge of the plan and now play a central role in this project. The system converts wind energy to propulsive force with a telescopic hard sail.

In October 2019, it acquired Approval in Principle (AIP) for the design of a hard sail system.

In December 2020, MOL reached a long-term transport deal with Tohoku Electric Power Co., Inc. using a 99,000DWT vessel equipped with a Wind Challenger sail with the aim to achieve 5% to 8% reduction of the GHG emissions. The vessel is currently constructed at Oshima Shipbuilding, and is scheduled to commence service in Q4 2022.

YouTube

https://youtu.be/yXbvG6VrwNc

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TzMY2FFogzQ

Drax helps refurbish West Monroe’s Kiroli Park Trail for kids

5 July 2022

News

Renewable energy company Drax has partnered with United Way of Northeast Louisiana (NELA) Young Leaders United group to sponsor a $1,000 refurbishment of Kiroli Park’s Born Learning Trail after it was damaged by recent storms.

The Born Learning Trail is an interactive walking trail to help parents, caregivers and communities provide quality early learning opportunities for young children. The trail is filled with colorful signs to help children get active as they learn about plants, flowers, birds and trees.

Volunteers with Young Leaders United replaced four signs on the trail that had been damaged, cleaned the remaining signs, and painted different parts of the trail to make it more inviting to visitors to Kiroli Park in West Monroe, Louisiana.

Brittany Myers, Drax’s Deputy General Counsel North America and Young Leaders United board member, said:

“I’m very passionate about their mission because I can see the positive impact the organization has in my local community, especially around education and health for children and their families.”

Drax Intern Jaidyn Oliver, United Way NELA Resource Development Manager Allyson Sager and Drax Communications Officer Annmarie Sartor

Allyson Sager, United Way NELA Resource Development Manager, said:

“The Born Learning Trail at Kiroli Park offers an active and fun learning experience for children and families. I loved working on the trail and I’m looking forward to taking my kids there very soon.”

“Members of United Way of Northeast Louisiana’s Young Leaders UNITED were thrilled to partner with Drax Biomass to refresh the Born Learning Trail at Kiroli Park. We are excited for the opportunity to provide ways for children to be active outdoors, to engage with their caretakers, and to have fun while learning.

“Drax is an incredible partner to UWNELA, and this is just the of the many ways Drax has supported United Way’s efforts to help children succeed in school and in life. We are so grateful for the support and for the amazing volunteers who made this effort possible.”

Lucy Doll, Young Leaders United volunteer, said:

“The Born Learning Trail is such a great way to encourage children to get out into nature and the interactive signs give them a way to learn more about their environment. For me, being part of the refurbishment was so rewarding – it’s great to give children a fun, bright place to explore their surroundings.”

Young Leaders United aims to develop skills, knowledge and closer ties with United Way NELA so as to cultivate future volunteer leaders of the organization and its community partners.

Jamie Worley, Young Leaders United volunteer, said:

“When the Covid pandemic left me unemployed, I wanted to find a way to give back to the community and the Young Leaders United group has been a great way to do that.

“They give us volunteers a way to do something worthwhile and do things that matter. I was able to get out and give back to my community because of Drax and the United Way of Northeast Louisiana.”

Drax is committed to supporting the communities local to its operations and is this year drawing up plans for a more targeted community spend.

In 2021, Drax supported education and skills in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama and provided donations to help communities hit by natural disasters and Covid and work to support sustainable forestry.

In Louisiana, support included Hurricane Ida relief efforts, sponsoring an environmental education workshop for teachers and launching a Classroom of the Month program

ENDS

Photo caption: Volunteers decorating the trail

Media contacts:

Megan Hopgood
Communications Officer
E: [email protected]
T: 07936 350 175

Annmarie Sartor
Communications Officer
E: [email protected]
T: +1 318 801 0046

Editor’s Notes

  • Through its operations in Louisiana and Mississippi, Drax supports more than 1,200 jobs and contributes $175m to the region’s economy.
  • This includes more than 1,200 jobs in Louisiana and Mississippi with 300 direct jobs across these two states in Drax’s three pellet mills and at the port of Greater Baton Rouge.
  • Drax’s pellet mills also support the wider supply chain of loggers, truckers, railway workers, port workers and other logistics professionals.

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology.

Drax’s around 3,000 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties. For more information visit www.drax.com

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

The Group also aims to build on its BECCS innovation at Drax Power Station with a target to deliver 4 million tonnes of negative CO2 emissions each year from new-build BECCS outside of the UK by 2030 and is currently developing models for North American and European markets.

Pellet production and supply:

The Group has 17 operational pellet plants and developments with nameplate production capacity of around 5 million tonnes a year.

Drax is targeting 8 million tonnes of production capacity by 2030, which will require the development of over 3 million tonnes of new biomass pellet production capacity. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet plants supply biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses, and also to customers in Europe and Asia.

Customers: 

Drax supplies renewable electricity to UK businesses, offering a range of energy-related services including energy optimisation, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.

To find out more go to the website www.energy.drax.com

Drax support extends Children’s Coalition suicide prevention program in Monroe and Ouachita for another year

28 June 2022

News

Renewable energy company Drax has donated $2,000 to the Children’s Coalition of Northeast Louisiana to extend their suicide prevention program for another school year.

Now in its seventeenth year, the Coalition’s Signs of Suicide (SOS) program works in middle schools in the Monroe City and Ouachita Parish school systems. Last year, the program reached eight schools including 4,000 students and faculty.

Jan Daniels, the youth development coordinator for the Children’s Coalition.

Jan Daniels, the youth development coordinator for the Children’s Coalition, said: “One out of every five teens in America suffers from emotional problems, and most never get help. Depression, anxiety, substance abuse and even suicidal tendencies are all common problems in our area. We want to make sure that our young people are not only physically healthy but mentally healthy—because healthy children are better prepared to learn.”

The SOS program educates faculty and students how to recognize the signs of depression and suicide in themselves and others, as well as how to react to certain situations and behaviors. The program provides screening by licensed counsellors for the students for any type of issue or risk. Students’ parents are notified and referred to professional help if any signs are shown.

Matt White, Executive Vice President of Drax’s Pellet Operations in North America, said: “Drax is committed to supporting programs that focus on the wellbeing of young people in our communities. So we’re very pleased to be helping extend this important initiative which aims to increase knowledge about depression and suicide so that more teenagers seek help when they need it and develop positive attitudes toward mental health issues.”

According to the CDC, there was a 22.3 percent spike in trips to Emergency Rooms in hospitals for potential suicides by children aged 12 to 17 in the summer of 2020 compared to the previous year.

Drax is committed to supporting the communities local to its operations and is this year drawing up plans for a more targeted community spend.

In 2021, Drax supported education and skills in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama and provided donations to help communities hit by natural disasters and Covid and work to support sustainable forestry.

In Louisiana, support included Hurricane Ida relief efforts, sponsoring an environmental education workshop for teachers and launching a Classroom of the Month program

If you are having difficult thoughts, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255.

ENDS

Picture caption: Matt White, Executive Vice President of Drax’s Pellet Operations in North America

Media contacts:

Megan Hopgood
Communications Officer
E: [email protected] 
T: 07936 350 175

Annmarie Sartor
Communications Officer
E: [email protected]
T: +1 318 801 0046

Editor’s Notes

  • Through its operations in Louisiana and Mississippi, Drax supports more than 1,200 jobs and contributes $175m to the region’s economy.
  • This includes more than 1,200 jobs in Louisiana and Mississippi with 300 direct jobs across these two states in Drax’s three pellet mills and at the port of Greater Baton Rouge.
  • Drax’s pellet mills also support the wider supply chain of loggers, truckers, railway workers, port workers and other logistics professionals.

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Drax’s around 3,000 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties. For more information visit www.drax.com

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

The Group also aims to build on its BECCS innovation at Drax Power Station with a target to deliver 4Mt of negative CO2 emissions each year from new-build BECCS outside of the UK by 2030 and is currently developing models for North American and European markets.

Pellet production and supply:
The Group has 17 operational pellet plants and developments with nameplate capacity of 4.6Mt, which will increase to c.5Mt once developments are complete.

Drax is targeting 8Mt of production capacity by 2030, which will require the development of over 3Mt of new biomass pellet production capacity. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 30% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers: 

Drax is the largest supplier of renewable electricity to UK businesses, supplying 100% renewable electricity as standard to more than 370,000 sites through Drax and Opus Energy.

It offers a range of energy-related services including energy optimisation, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.

To find out more go to the website www.energy.drax.com

Drax awards $1000 scholarship to Ouachita Green intern

23 June 2022

News

Drax has awarded a $1,000 scholarship to an intern who took part in the Ouachita Green “Love Where You Live” program as part of the renewable energy company’s commitment to supporting its surrounding communities.

Drax first partnered with local volunteer organization Ouachita Green in 2018, supporting initiatives such as the “Love Where You Live” internship which provides an opportunity for young people to give back and become more involved with conservation efforts in their communities.

Each year, Ouachita Green holds a ceremony to celebrate the interns, all of whom are high school students, who have volunteered to work for the organization alongside their studies throughout the year. As part of the ceremony, interns who have gone above and beyond to contribute to their local community are awarded scholarships, funded by the program’s sponsors.

Ouachita Green Executive Director Aundi Brown with all the Ouachita Green interns

This year, Ouachita Green Intern Yuri Cobb was awarded the $1,000 Drax Outstanding Intern Scholarship in recognition of her exceptional hard work and dedication to the program.

Yuri, who has committed over 140 hours of community service, said: “It is great to be able to make a difference and give back in my own community with events such as the Litter Cleanups and Water Sweeps. I am planning to use this scholarship for college courses during the next school year.”

Matt White, Executive Vice President of Drax’s Pellet Operations, said: “We’re proud to sponsor the Ouachita Green Internship program, which promotes our shared values of protecting the natural environment and providing educational opportunities. Congratulations to Yuri and all the interns who took part. It’s great to see young people who are passionate about giving back to their local community and conserving areas of natural beauty.”

Ouachita Green Board Member Cameron Brister said: “Our partnership with Drax has enabled us to make serious investments in our community, many of those being programs like our “Love Where You Live” internship. We are always looking to make strong, beneficial community relationships, and Drax has always been a constant for us, ready and more than willing to help.”

Ouachita Green is a nonprofit organization that is dedicated to keeping Ouachita Parish beautiful by organizing and participating in community enhancement projects. They advocate for recycling, litter reduction, environmental education and conservation.

Aundi Brown, Executive Director of Ouachita Green, said: “It has been an honor getting to know and work with each of our interns and being able to see them grow and take pride in their community. I can’t wait to see what they all do with their futures.”

Drax is committed to supporting the communities local to its operations and is this year drawing up plans for a more targeted community spend.

In 2021, Drax supported education and skills in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama and provided donations to help communities hit by natural disasters and Covid and work to support sustainable forestry.

In Louisiana, support included Hurricane Ida relief efforts, sponsoring an environmental education workshop for teachers and launching a Classroom of the Month program

ENDS

 

Photo caption: 1. Drax Communications Officer Annmarie Sartor, Ouachita Green Intern Yuri Cobb and Ouachita Green Executive Director Aundi Brown

2. Ouachita Green Executive Director Aundi Brown with all the Ouachita Green interns

 

Media contacts:

Megan Hopgood

Communications Officer

E: [email protected]

T: 07936 350 175

 

Annmarie Sartor

Communications Officer

E: [email protected]  

T: +1 318 801 0046

 

 Editor’s Notes

  • Through its operations in Louisiana and Mississippi, Drax supports more than 1,200 jobs and contributes $175m to the region’s economy.
  • This includes more than 1,200 jobs in Louisiana and Mississippi with 300 direct jobs across these two states in Drax’s three pellet mills and at the port of Greater Baton Rouge.
  • Drax’s pellet mills also support the wider supply chain of loggers, truckers, railway workers, port workers and other logistics professionals.

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Drax’s around 3,000 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties. For more information visit www.drax.com

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

The Group also aims to build on its BECCS innovation at Drax Power Station with a target to deliver 4Mt of negative CO2 emissions each year from new-build BECCS outside of the UK by 2030 and is currently developing models for North American and European markets.

Pellet production and supply:
The Group has 17 operational pellet plants and developments with nameplate capacity of 4.6Mt, which will increase to c.5Mt once developments are complete.

Drax is targeting 8Mt of production capacity by 2030, which will require the development of over 3Mt of new biomass pellet production capacity. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 30% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers: 

Drax is the largest supplier of renewable electricity to UK businesses, supplying 100% renewable electricity as standard to more than 370,000 sites through Drax and Opus Energy.

It offers a range of energy-related services including energy optimisation, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.

To find out more go to the website www.energy.drax.com

Drax supports education and sustainability at forest sector event

15 June 2022

News

400 people attended the annual Sustainable Forestry Initiative and Project Learning Tree (SFI/PLT) conference in Madison, Wisconsin, which was sponsored by renewable energy company Drax Group.

Topics including managing wildfire risks, climate resiliency and advancing opportunities for diverse communities in the forest sector were discussed.

Diane Nicholls, Drax Vice President of Sustainability, said:

“Drax is focused on ensuring what we do achieves positive outcomes for people, nature and the climate, so we were very pleased to sponsor the SFI/PLT conference, where alongside our suppliers, consultants, and certification bodies we could learn together about new initiatives and opportunities to support communities where we operate.

“Drax is committed to supporting the sustainability of forests and it was invaluable to meet so many people and organizations who share our goals.”

Project Learning Tree aims to promote greater awareness and knowledge of the environment through hands-on experience and engaging activities that can be integrated into the school curriculum. The aim of events like these is to give those in the forest and wood product industries an opportunity to make connections and enhance their knowledge.

Stacy Blomquist, PLT Louisiana State Coordinator and SFI Public Affairs Specialist, said:

“The conference was an amazing opportunity – it brought people together to allow closer collaboration. It gave us state coordinators a chance to connect and reach a broader audience, educating them about nature and sustainability. More people from each state can now take back connections along with new materials to support people in their communities.”

The SFI is a non-profit organization dedicated to providing solutions for local and global sustainability challenges, advancing sustainability through forest-focused collaboration, and enabling a world that values and benefits from sustainably managed forests.

Drax is committed to supporting the communities local to its operations and is this year drawing up plans for a more targeted community spend.

Drax Sustainability Director Kyla Cheynet

In 2021, Drax supported education and skills in Louisiana, Mississippi, Arkansas and Alabama and provided donations to help communities hit by natural disasters and Covid and work to support sustainable forestry.

 In Louisiana, support included Hurricane Ida relief efforts, sponsoring an environmental education workshop for teachers and launching a Classroom of the Month program.

ENDS

Top image caption: Drax Community Manger Annmarie Sartor and PLT Louisiana State Coordinator Stacy Blomquist

Media contacts:

Megan Hopgood
Communications Officer
E: [email protected]
T: 07936 350 175

Annmarie Sartor
Community Manager
E: [email protected]
T: +1 318 801 0046

Editor’s Notes

  • Through its operations in Louisiana and Mississippi, Drax supports more than 1,200 jobs and contributes $175m to the region’s economy.
  • This includes more than 1,200 jobs in Louisiana and Mississippi with 300 direct jobs across these two states in Drax’s three pellet mills and at the port of Greater Baton Rouge.
  • Drax’s pellet mills also support the wider supply chain of loggers, truckers, railway workers, port workers and other logistics professionals.

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology.

Drax’s around 3,000 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties. For more information visit www.drax.com

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

The Group also aims to build on its BECCS innovation at Drax Power Station with a target to deliver 4 million tonnes of negative CO2 emissions each year from new-build BECCS outside of the UK by 2030 and is currently developing models for North American and European markets.

Pellet production and supply:

The Group has 17 operational pellet plants and developments with nameplate production capacity of around 5 million tonnes a year.

Drax is targeting 8 million tonnes of production capacity by 2030, which will require the development of over 3 million tonnes of new biomass pellet production capacity. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet plants supply biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses, and also to customers in Europe and Asia.

Customers: 

Drax supplies renewable electricity to UK businesses, offering a range of energy-related services including energy optimisation, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.

To find out more go to the website www.energy.drax.com

Drax earns spot on the podium with C$10,000 donation to the BC Summer Games

13 June 2022

News

As a Friend of the Games, the proceeds will go towards organising and hosting the July 21-24 event as well as investing in infrastructure to provide a legacy for the community.

Matt White, Executive Vice President, Pellet Operations

Matt White, Executive Vice President of Drax’s Pellet Operations in North America said:

“These young athletes define commitment and determination – two qualities we can get behind. It’s important to support the people who live in the areas where we operate and we fully embrace the motto of this year’s Games, Spirit Lives Here – Njan tsen ghuna – and we encourage all our employees to take part in the Games this summer.”

This is the first time that Prince George has hosted the BC Summer Games since 1990. The BC Winter and BC Summer Games bring together the best young athletes from across the province. Nearly 4,000 athletes and their families and coaches are expected to attend the event.

Renee McCloskey, President of the Prince George 2022 BC Summer Games said:

“The young athletes coming to Prince George for the 2022 BC Summer Games inspire us to plan an exceptional experience for them. The generous support of our partners and Friends of the Games ensures we will deliver on that. The spirit of community that lives here will make these Games the best.”

Renee McCloskey, President of the Prince George 2022 BC Summer Games. [Photo credit: Chuck Chin]

Drax is committed to supporting the communities in which it operates by promoting sustainable forestry and investing in local economic development. It is a major producer of sustainable biomass with seven pellet plants in BC and two in Alberta, Canada.

To volunteer for the BC Summer Games, click here

ENDS

Main image caption: Torch bearers and athletes Cody Bailey and Alison Emberly lighting the torch for the BC Summer Games while students from Polaris Montessori Elementary School perform indigenous drumming at the event. [Photo credit: Chris Leboe]

Media contacts:

Selina Williams
Media Manager
E: [email protected]
T: 07712 230 393

Ali Lewis
Head of Media & PR
E: [email protected]
T: 07712 670 888

Editor’s Notes

  • Drax produces sustainable compressed wood pellets at its pellet plants in Canada and the US.
  • Drax has seven pellet plants in BC (Smithers, Houston, Burns Lake, Meadowbank, Williams Lake, Armstrong, Lavington) and two in Alberta (High Level, Entwistle)
  • Drax’s Canadian wood pellets are principally sourced from sawmill residues, including sawdust and chips. The remainder comes from residues from harvesting activities such as damaged, diseased and rotten wood, which would otherwise be burned by the side of the road.
  • Some of the pellets are shipped to Drax Power Station in England and used to generate renewable electricity for millions of UK homes and businesses. The rest is sold to other customers around the world.
  • Drax’s pellet plants in Canada also deliver economic growth and jobs and support the forest products sector and its supply chain.

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Drax’s around 3,000 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties. For more information visit www.drax.com

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

The Group also aims to build on its BECCS innovation at Drax Power Station with a target to deliver 4Mt of negative CO2 emissions each year from new-build BECCS outside of the UK by 2030 and is currently developing models for North American and European markets.

Pellet production and supply:

The Group has 17 operational pellet plants and developments with nameplate capacity of 4.6Mt, which will increase to c.5Mt once developments are complete.

Drax is targeting 8Mt of production capacity by 2030, which will require the development of over 3Mt of new biomass pellet production capacity. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 30% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers: 

Drax is the largest supplier of renewable electricity to UK businesses, supplying 100% renewable electricity as standard to more than 370,000 sites through Drax and Opus Energy.

It offers a range of energy-related services including energy optimisation, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.

To find out more go to the website www.energy.drax.com

Drax donates $30,000 towards Aliceville community storm shelter

24 May 2022

News

Renewable energy company Drax has donated $30,000 towards the Dancy-Cochrane-Memphis Volunteer Fire Department’s fund to provide a storm shelter for residents.

Community storm shelters are essential in areas at high risk of extreme weather and Aliceville had been identified as one of several fire protection districts in the county without one.

Drax, which operates a sustainable biomass production facility in Aliceville, has made the donation, as part of its work to support local communities.

The new shelter will be installed by the Fire Department on the outskirts of Aliceville on Highway 32, and will have enough capacity to shelter and protect 49 people. The total cost of the shelter is in the region of $60,000 with funding also provided by the Black Belt Foundation.

Matt White, Executive Vice President of Drax’s Pellet Operations, said: “The work that the volunteer fire department does is vital in keeping the local community safe and Drax is proud to be able to support them with funding for this essential storm shelter. I hope it will give citizens living in Aliceville some comfort, knowing that they have a safe place to shelter when extreme weather events occur.”

Jalen Spencer, Fire Chief of Dancy-Cochrane-Memphis Volunteer Fire Department in Aliceville, said: “It has been a concern for us for a long time that we have not had a storm shelter in our fire protection district, as tornadoes occur so often in our region so it’s a relief that people in our community will have a safe place to go. These storm shelters will help everyone in our community, and we are so thankful that we are now able to provide one with support from Drax.”

Terrence E. Windham, Mayor of Aliceville, said: “The City of Aliceville and the surrounding areas such as Dancy, Hudson, and our over the river communities appreciate the commitment to the community that has been shown by Drax. Our area is no stranger to dangerous storms so the strategic placement of this shelter will have an immediate impact on these communities. We appreciate Drax and look forward to working with them in continuing the enhancement of our communities.”

Drax is committed to supporting the communities local to its operations through a variety of measures that include sponsoring educational programs and providing support in times of crisis, including during the Covid-19 pandemic and natural disasters such as Hurricane Ida.

ENDS

Photo caption: Matt White, Executive Vice President of Drax’s Pellet Operations

Media contacts:

Megan Hopgood
Communications Officer
E: [email protected]
T: 07936 350 175

Annmarie Sartor
Communications Officer
E: [email protected]
T: +1 318 801 0046

 

Editor’s Notes

Including Aliceville, Drax operates seven pellet plants in the US south, which use biomass sourced from the region’s sustainably managed working forests.

Drax’s pellet plants help support employment and opportunities across the wider forestry and lumber sectors in Alabama with around 350 people employed during construction of its new plant in Demopolis, and 120 people employed directly by the renewable energy company at its two pellet plants in Demopolis in Marengo County and Aliceville, in Pickens County.

The Demopolis and Aliceville pellet plants support Drax’s plans to increase pellet production to meet growing demand in Europe and Asia for reliable, renewable electricity, which helps displace coal from energy systems, reducing emissions in line with global climate targets.

 

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Drax’s around 3,000 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties. For more information visit www.drax.com

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

The Group also aims to build on its BECCS innovation at Drax Power Station with a target to deliver 4Mt of negative CO2 emissions each year from new-build BECCS outside of the UK by 2030 and is currently developing models for North American and European markets.

Pellet production and supply:
The Group has 17 operational pellet plants and developments with nameplate capacity of 4.6Mt, which will increase to c.5Mt once developments are complete.

Drax is targeting 8Mt of production capacity by 2030, which will require the development of over 3Mt of new biomass pellet production capacity. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 30% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers: 

Drax is the largest supplier of renewable electricity to UK businesses, supplying 100% renewable electricity as standard to more than 370,000 sites through Drax and Opus Energy.

It offers a range of energy-related services including energy optimisation, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.

To find out more go to the website www.energy.drax.com

Kiroli Elementary School awarded Drax ‘Classroom of the Month’

23 May 2022

News

Drax’s Classroom of the Month for May was awarded to third-grade pupils at Kiroli Elementary School in West Monroe for making consistent progress on their academic and reading skills and working hard to achieve their goals.

Their teacher Rebecca Walker said: “The kids were so excited to be awarded Classroom of the Month and meet Ace the Warhawk. Since the COVID-19 pandemic, it has been difficult for the students to catch up and this program helps motivate them to do their best. It gives them something to work towards and makes them feel appreciated and recognized for their hard work. I’m sure meeting Ace and learning about ULM has sparked their interest in all that college has to offer. It gives them something to look forward to as they progress through school.”

The program has been developed by Drax in partnership with the University of Louisiana at Monroe (ULM) to inspire local students to start thinking about higher education and what they can achieve, as part of the energy company’s ongoing commitment to supporting education in the communities local to its operations.

A different class each month is awarded ‘Classroom of the Month’ by Drax and receives a visit from ULM representatives to reward the pupils for their hard work and show them some of the options available in their hometown as they advance through school.

Drax has arranged for representatives from the University’s athletics department to visit the schools to talk to the students, raise awareness of the college and answer any questions they might have. The students also receive two tickets each to a Warhawk football, basketball, or baseball game and meet Ace, the team mascot.

Drew Bellipanni, Partnership Services Co-ordinator at ULM, said: “This program is a chance to give back to our local schools and teachers who have worked hard throughout the pandemic to continue teaching our children. We hope Classroom of the Month will motivate students to continue studying as well as see what college has to offer.”

Executive Vice President of Drax’s Pellet Operations, Matt White, said: “It’s so important that the next generation has equal access to education. Even though these children are in the early stages of their school careers, we hope this program will inspire them by showing them what opportunities are available to them in the future.”

Drax is committed to supporting the communities local to its operations through a variety of measures that include sponsoring educational programs and providing support in times of crisis, including during the Covid-19 pandemic and recent natural disasters such as Hurricane Ida.

ENDS

Photo caption: Third graders at Kiroli Elementary School, winners of May’s Classroom of the Month with Ace, the Warhawk team mascot.

Media contacts:

Megan Hopgood
Communications Officer
E: [email protected]
T: 07936 350 175

Annmarie Sartor
Communications Officer
E: [email protected]
T: +1 318 801 0046

 

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Drax’s around 3,000 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties. For more information visit www.drax.com

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

The Group also aims to build on its BECCS innovation at Drax Power Station with a target to deliver 4Mt of negative CO2 emissions each year from new-build BECCS outside of the UK by 2030 and is currently developing models for North American and European markets.

Pellet production and supply:
The Group has 17 operational pellet plants and developments with nameplate capacity of 4.6Mt, which will increase to c.5Mt once developments are complete.

Drax is targeting 8Mt of production capacity by 2030, which will require the development of over 3Mt of new biomass pellet production capacity. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 30% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers: 

Drax is the largest supplier of renewable electricity to UK businesses, supplying 100% renewable electricity as standard to more than 370,000 sites through Drax and Opus Energy.

It offers a range of energy-related services including energy optimisation, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.

To find out more go to the website www.energy.drax.com

Drax celebrates success of ‘Pen Friends’ program with parade in Morehouse Parish

16 May 2022

News

To celebrate the end of a successful first year of the ‘Pen Friends’ program, Drax employees took part in a ‘mobile parade’ where they decorated their cars and visited Morehouse and Delta Elementary Schools to meet the pupils they had been corresponding with.

Volunteers also presented their Pen Friends with small gifts in congratulations for their hard work during the past school year.

Renewable energy company Drax partnered with United Way of Northeast Louisiana last year to introduce the ‘Pen Friends’ program to elementary schools in Morehouse Parish as part of the company’s commitment to supporting education and skills development.

Drax Communications Officer Annmarie Sartor and her Pen Friend Katlyn

Drax Communications Officer Annmarie Sartor said: “It’s incredibly rewarding to know we are addressing and helping to improve the reading level of children in our Drax-Morehouse community. As a company, we are committed to supporting the education of future generations and this program also gives our employees a chance to volunteer and make a difference. I hope we can expand the program next school year to help even more children with their reading and writing.”

The Pen Friends program is part of United Way’s ‘READ.LEARN.SUCCEED.’ initiative which aims to improve children’s literacy skills and increase social mobility. The program was introduced this school year at Delta and Morehouse Elementary Schools and offers second and third grade students the opportunity to exchange letters with volunteers as a way to practice their reading and writing.

Each month, participating students receive a letter and a packet filled with books, activities, and other educational tools to aid their learning.

United Way Community Impact Initiatives Director Michelle Saucer said: “The goal of our ‘READ.LEARN.SUCCEED.’ initiative is to practice and sharpen reading and writing skills and build positive connections with our second and third graders. We appreciate Drax’s commitment to helping United Way ensure the success of our children and youth.”

The program was initially developed by United Way in 2013 to tackle the issue of children falling behind their expected reading grade level. Drax has extended the program to Morehouse Parish, home of one of its pellet plants, as part of the company’s focus on improving education in local communities.

Drax Regional Controller Rob Whitten and his Pen Friend Sincere

Drax Regional Controller Rob Whitten said: “It was such a great opportunity to be a part of the Pen Friends program in Morehouse Parish. Being able to meet our pen friends at the school and see all the other children who took part was a fantastic experience. They were an impressive, polite and appreciative group and I hope they enjoyed the program as much as we did!”

Drax is committed to supporting the communities local to its operations through a variety of measures that include sponsoring educational programs and providing support in times of crisis, including during the Covid-19 pandemic and natural disasters such as Hurricane Ida.

ENDS

Feature image caption: Pupils at Morehouse Elementary School

Media contacts:

Megan Hopgood
Communications Officer
E: [email protected]
T: 07936 350 175

Annmarie Sartor
Communications Officer
E: [email protected]
T: +1 318 801 0046

About Drax

Drax Group’s purpose is to enable a zero carbon, lower cost energy future and in 2019 announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology.

Drax’s around 3,000 employees operate across three principal areas of activity – electricity generation, electricity sales to business customers and compressed wood pellet production and supply to third parties. For more information visit www.drax.com

Power generation:

Drax owns and operates a portfolio of renewable electricity generation assets in England and Scotland. The assets include the UK’s largest power station, based at Selby, North Yorkshire, which supplies five percent of the country’s electricity needs.

Having converted Drax Power Station to use sustainable biomass instead of coal it has become the UK’s biggest renewable power generator and the largest decarbonisation project in Europe. It is also where Drax is piloting the groundbreaking negative emissions technology BECCS within its CCUS (Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage) Incubation Area.

Its pumped storage, hydro and energy from waste assets in Scotland include Cruachan Power Station – a flexible pumped storage facility within the hollowed-out mountain Ben Cruachan.

The Group also aims to build on its BECCS innovation at Drax Power Station with a target to deliver 4Mt of negative CO2 emissions each year from new-build BECCS outside of the UK by 2030 and is currently developing models for North American and European markets.

Pellet production and supply:
The Group has 17 operational pellet plants and developments with nameplate capacity of 4.6Mt, which will increase to c.5Mt once developments are complete.

Drax is targeting 8Mt of production capacity by 2030, which will require the development of over 3Mt of new biomass pellet production capacity. The pellets are produced using materials sourced from sustainably managed working forests and are supplied to third party customers in Europe and Asia for the generation of renewable power.

Drax’s pellet mills supply around 30% of the biomass used at its own power station in North Yorkshire, England to generate flexible, renewable power for the UK’s homes and businesses.

Customers: 

Drax is the largest supplier of renewable electricity to UK businesses, supplying 100% renewable electricity as standard to more than 370,000 sites through Drax and Opus Energy.

It offers a range of energy-related services including energy optimisation, as well as electric vehicle strategy and management.

To find out more go to the website www.energy.drax.com