Drax Group UK

Drax’s Cruachan Power Station, near Oban in Scotland is integral to the country’s #energysecurity through storing excess power from renewables to be re-used when electricity is in short supply. Generating power when the country needs it. 💡 Drax is also developing the UK’s first new pumped storage hydro power station in a generation. The proposed 600 MW new plant would be built adjacent to the existing facility, increasing the site’s total capacity to more than 1 gigawatt (GW). 🛠️ 🔗 Learn more: https://lnkd.in/ecaHX8k5

⚡ The UK has become the first major economy to stop using coal for energy this year. Weaning the grid off gas is the next big challenge and, according to a recent #ElectricInsights report, could be even harder. 💡 Learn more via the link in comments. ⬇️

Our UK BECCS Programme Director, Richard Gwilliam, visited the British Embassy in Tokyo (UK in Japan) to share our vision for decarbonising the UK’s most carbon intensive industrial cluster. 🇯🇵 This involves plans to deploy #BECCS at Drax Power Station, which will deliver good jobs, growth and clean energy for millions of homes. ⚡

#BECCS at Drax will create and support 10,000 jobs during construction. 👥 Supporting high quality jobs and skills, providing reliable clean power for millions of homes and saving the UK up to £15bn on its path to #NetZero. All whilst helping build a world leading skills base in the Humber. ⚡

We’re pleased to hear that the Northern Endurance Partnership and Net Zero Teesside Power Projects have moved to the next stage of development. ⚡ Hear from Richard Gwilliam, Chair of the Humber Energy Board on why the Humber needs to be next… 💬 ⬇️

Our sustainable #biomass plays a critical role in keeping the lights on when the sun doesn’t shine and the wind doesn’t blow. 💡 As a dispatchable, flexible, and renewable asset, Drax Power Station reacts quickly to help balance the energy system, supporting the UK’s energy security. 🌿 Data from Drax #ElectricInsights shows that over the past 7 days, biomass supplied around 8% of Britain’s electricity. ⚡

⚡ Cruachan Power Station’s next chapter: the Expansion. 🛠️ National Energy System Operator's (NESO) recent report outlined the need for the development of new pumped storage hydro plants to meet the UK’s clean power by 2030 target. 🌍 At Drax, we have plans to build the UK’s first pumped storage hydro station in over 40 years - this will double the capacity of the current site at Cruachan Power Station, create and support thousands of jobs, and help decarbonise the UK. 💡 Learn more from Ian Kinnaird, our FlexGen Assets Director, and Steve Marshall, our Development Manager, in our latest video. 📺

💬 Yesterday, Keir Starmer MP delivered a speech setting out the UK Government’s “milestones for a mission-led Government”. 🇬🇧   We were pleased to hear the Prime Minister reiterate the Government’s pledge to deliver #CleanPower by 2030 - stating that he will ensure this is achieved by securing home-grown energy, protecting billpayers, and accelerating to #NetZero. 🌍 #BECCS at Drax will be a key part of this, providing reliable clean power for millions of homes and saving the UK up to £15bn on its path to Net Zero. 💡

Cruachan Power Station is more than just hydropower. 👥 We recently asked members of the local community: What does Cruachan Power Station mean to you? From providing opportunity, to stimulating growth, to generating clean power, we’re proud to play a positive role in our communities. 🤝 With our plans to build a second underground pumped storage hydro plant at Cruachan, we will continue supporting our communities for generations to come. 🌍

We attended the Great Northern Conference in Hull earlier this week, gathering with politicians, business leaders and academics to discuss what’s needed to grow the economy and build a greener, fairer, equal future for the North. 🤝   Bruce Heppenstall, Drax Power Station’s Plant Director joined a panel discussion, “How will the North contribute in making Britain a ‘clean energy superpower' and achieve a Net Zero economy”. He spoke about… 💬 ⬇️ 🌿 Drax Power Station’s transition from coal to sustainable biomass, helping to decarbonise the UK’s energy system. 💡 The important role we play in providing energy security for the UK, and how this will continue for generations to come with our plans for #BECCS. 👷 The need to empower young people by building green skills for the future. We’re proud to be contributing to this with our new virtual BECCS work experience modules, created in collaboration with award-winning careers exploration platform, Springpod.   It was a fantastic session chaired by Jane Gaston, CEO of Net Zero North West, and Bruce was pleased to join the discussion with Jonathan Oxley (CBI (Confederation of British Industry)), Ian Livingston (Equinor) and Dr Zoe Detko (Ardea Eco-innovation).