UK Volume 21

uk.superbrands.com Superbrands UK Annual Vol.21 Drax is enabling a zero carbon, lower cost energy future . Drax Power Station is the UK’s largest single site renewable power generator and has ambitions to be carbon negative by 2030 – helping the UK meet its zero carbon target Market Drax’s portfolio of power generating assets make it the fourth largest power generator in the UK. Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire is the country’s largest, producing enough power for six million homes and has been the backbone of electricity generation in the UK since 1974. Since converting two thirds of the power station from coal to use sustainable biomass, it has reduced emissions by more than 80% making it the biggest decarbonisation project in Europe. Drax Power Station will stop using coal in 2021 – a key milestone in achieving its world-leading ambition to be a carbon negative company by 2030, using bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) – a ground-breaking negative emissions technology needed globally to address the climate crisis. In 2018 Drax acquired a portfolio of flexible, low-carbon and renewable electricity generation assets in strategic locations across Britain. These include the iconic Cruachan pumped storage power station and two hydro schemes in Scotland, which have enhanced Drax’s role supporting the UK grid as more intermittent renewables such as wind and solar come on line. Drax is the world’s fourth largest producer of sustainable biomass pellets. In the US, Drax manufactures compressed wood pellets produced from sustainably managed working forests. It supplies around 20% of the biomass used by Drax Power Station to produce 11% of the UK’s renewable power. Drax’s customer facing businesses – Haven Power and Opus Energy – supply renewable electricity and energy solutions to UK businesses, and provide a route to market for more than 2,300 renewable energy installations – mainly wind and solar. Product Drax uses its expertise and experience to help UK businesses on their own sustainability journey via its energy supply brands, Haven Power and Opus Energy. Drax offers a variety of sustainable solutions to help businesses reduce their carbon footprint and energy costs. These include 100% renewable electricity, smart meters, energy and market insight, power purchasing agreements, electric fleets and asset optimisation. Its latest suite of products support electrification. Drax Electric Assets helps customers optimise power-intensive equipment, delivering cost savings and opportunities to create new income streams. Drax Electric Vehicles supports and guides organisations through the process of electrifying their fleets to achieve further costs savings. Drax also provides a route to market for more than 2,300 independent wind and solar power generators, and is trialling polyphase smart meters, giving large corporate customers more control of their energy. Achievements Carbon emissions from Drax’s power generation were 85% lower at the end of 2019 than in 2012 and the company is on track to stop using coal in March 2021. Drax uses rail to transport its pellets, saving 32,622.50 tonnes of CO 2 per year DID YOU KNOW? Drax has a hollowed-out mountain , two visitor centres and a nature reserve DID YOU KNOW?