Drax Power Station, once Western Europe’s largest coal-fired power plant, has become a symbol of innovation, showcasing how traditional energy assets can transform to support global decarbonisation efforts. Now, Drax Group is taking its pioneering journey to a new frontier, launching a dedicated business to develop bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) projects in the U.S., underscoring its ambition to lead the carbon-negative revolution.
Drax’s evolution reflects a steadfast commitment to sustainability and technological progress. Originally established to capitalise on North Yorkshire’s Selby coalfield, Drax Power Station emerged in the 1970s as a robust coal-fired powerhouse. Over decades, the station adopted cutting-edge environmental controls, such as flue gas desulphurisation, and achieved landmark innovations, including the conversion to biomass in 2013. By 2023, it had fully transitioned to biomass pellets, cementing its reputation as a model of adaptability in energy production.
With its four biomass units providing 2.6 GW of capacity and ensuring reliable dispatchable power for the UK, Drax continues to play a pivotal role in the national grid, particularly during peak demand. Meanwhile, the company’s biomass production operations have expanded into a lucrative business, generating millions of tonnes annually from sustainable materials sourced in North America. These efforts are projected to double by 2030, reflecting Drax’s ambition to supply the growing global market with renewable energy solutions.
At the core of Drax’s current transformation is its groundbreaking work in BECCS—a dual-purpose technology that combines biomass power generation with carbon capture to achieve negative emissions. Following successful pilot programmes, Drax is retrofitting two of its units to integrate BECCS, with plans to capture up to 8 million tonnes of CO2 annually by 2030. This initiative has gained vital regulatory approval from the UK government, affirming the project’s ability to achieve 95% carbon capture efficiency and make meaningful contributions to the nation’s net-zero goals.
The strategic shift to BECCS is underpinned by the urgent need for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies. As global mitigation efforts face challenges, solutions like BECCS are increasingly recognised as essential for addressing emissions from hard-to-decarbonise sectors and removing historical CO2 from the atmosphere. Drax’s BECCS project stands out in its ambition, scale, and integration within the UK’s Zero Carbon Humber cluster, enhancing its potential to set global standards for decarbonisation.
Looking beyond the UK, Drax Group is advancing its BECCS strategy with a bold expansion into the U.S. The newly established business unit, headquartered in Houston, Texas, aims to develop and operate BECCS plants across North America. Initial projects will target the U.S. Southeast, leveraging the region’s abundant sustainable biomass resources and established carbon sequestration infrastructure. The company’s plans include capturing up to 3 million tonnes of CO2 per plant annually, starting with two facilities by the 2030s, and scaling operations significantly in subsequent years.
Drax’s U.S. expansion capitalises on favourable market conditions, including incentives under the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) and the growing demand for CDR credits in the voluntary carbon market. By combining its extensive expertise in biomass production and carbon capture with strategic partnerships, Drax is positioning itself to deliver economic and environmental benefits, from job creation to reliable negative-emissions power generation.
This ambitious agenda exemplifies Drax’s determination to lead the next wave of energy innovation, building on decades of experience while embracing the challenges of a net-zero future. As the company redefines energy production, it continues to demonstrate the transformative potential of technology-driven sustainability.
Drax Group plc (LON:DRX), trading as Drax, is a power generation business. The principal downstream enterprises are based in the UK and include Drax Power Limited, which runs the biomass fuelled Drax power station, near Selby in North Yorkshire.
