Drax’s pioneering development of co-firing technology has necessarily had to progress hand-in-hand with farmers and foresters. As we embark on our next phase in renewable power generation we are keen to establish a sustainable and secure biomass supply chain in the UK.

It is hoped that Drax can build energy crop supply relationships with growers in conjunction with the supply of traditional agricultural by-products. A key step in helping to create this viable mixed market for UK-sourced biomass will be the start of full-scale processing at a 100,000 tonnes-a-year straw pellet plant in Goole, near Drax Power Station. Commissioning is already well underway and full operation is expected in summer 2009.

Based on the experience gained from this first facility we will consider development of plants elsewhere in the UK to process alternative types of biomass, including energy crops.