Drax carbon emissions down 52% in 2019

The Drax Group reduced its carbon emissions by 52 per cent for the first half of 2019 compared to the same period last year with 94 per cent of the power produced at its North Yorkshire plant coming from renewables.

The record low coincides with the UK hitting its sub 100g/kWh carbon emissions targets for the first time on 30 June this year.

More than half the country was powered by renewables on this date as carbon emissions were at 97g/kWh meeting the UK Committee on Climate Change’s 2030 target of 100g/kWh.

The milestone was announced alongside Drax’s financial results for the six months to end of June 2019 showing debt increasing from £366 million to £924 million over the year, while adjusted EBITDA grew by 35 per cent to £138 million.

Drax, which has converted a coal-powered station to biomass last year, is now producing greater amounts of renewable power, but recognises it has further to go.

“If we can scale up our successful bioenergy with carbon capture and storage, Drax could become the world’s first negative emissions power station in the mid-2020s, helping to achieve the government’s net zero by 2050 carbon target,” said Will Gardiner, Drax Group CEO.

Data from Drax’s Electric Insights shows that on 30 June renewables supplied 55.3 per cent of the county’s electricity throughout the day, beating the previous record of 49.4 per cent set on 21 September 2018.

Just 9.5 per cent of the UK’s electricity was supplied by fossil fuels in the mid-afternoon of 30 June.

June also saw the lowest ever monthly demand of power at 29.4GW, thanks in part to lower demand due to seasonal conditions as well as favourable generating conditions for wind and solar.

Imperial College London’s Dr Iain Staffell, who analysed data, said: “Britain’s power system is decarbonising at a faster rate than any other country in the world. We have spent more than half the summer without a single coal power station turned on, and renewables are breaking new records all the time.

“As a result, our power stations are producing 100 million tonnes less CO2 per year than they were just six years ago. The amount of carbon saved is equivalent to taking every single car and van off the UK’s roads, or what would be produced if every single person in the UK flew to Beijing and back.

“It’s fantastic progress, but we still have a long way to go to meet our net zero carbon targets. To make a real difference to the climate crisis, we must waste no time in using this low-carbon electricity to clean up our transport and buildings.”

Drax, which converted two thirds of its power station to use biomass instead of coal, is producing sufficient renewable energy for four million households. This has been achieved by introducing renewables across the Drax network including the acquisition of a portfolio of renewable, low-carbon, flexible power stations this year.