Biomass

Drax Power is well advanced in developing the use of alternative fuels from renewable sources for electricity generation. Emphasis is currently being placed on demonstrating successful supply partnerships for energy crops and forestry materials, and the capability for co-firing - blending and burning these biomass materials with coal.

By mid 2010, we will have the capability to deliver our target of producing 12.5% of our output from renewable fuels. This will save over two and a half million tonnes of CO₂ each year.

Co-firing with biomass fuels provides many benefits:

• It is a low cost, efficient renewable technology
• It directly replaces coal burning, so reducing CO₂ emissions
• It contributes towards Government’s targets on the use of renewables in electricity generation
• Development of energy crops is good for UK farming, recreation and the countryside

Petroleum coke

To help maintain our vital role in the UK economy and safeguard cost effective power production, our fuel strategy recognises the need to sustain a ready supply of traditional quality coal and how best to incorporate alternative fuels, including different fossil fuels and renewable materials. The choice of fuels has to be balanced with availability and flexibility of supply.

The trial burn of petroleum coke (petcoke) is an integral part of our strategy of developing alternative fuels. It has involved burning a blend of coal and up to 15% petcoke on one of our six generating units.

Petcoke is derived from the petrochemical industry and is produced from oil, it contains higher levels of sulphur than coal but the FGD plant at Drax ensures that at least 90% of the SO₂ is removed before the gases created during combustion are emitted to the atmosphere. Because of this we have the capability to burn petcoke within the permitted sulphur levels set for the Power Station by the Environment Agency.

A considerable amount of work was completed prior to the first delivery of petcoke to the Power Station. This preliminary period allowed an extended period of public consultation during which we collected 12 months’ data on levels of dust, nickel, vanadium and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the immediate vicinity of the Power Station. We also established further air quality baseline tests and completed a capital investment programme aimed at installing a dedicated coal/petcoke fuel blending facility.

The combustion trial commenced on 27 June 2005 and since then a considerable volume of data has been made publicly available. The monitoring programme was specifically designed to address the issues raised during the public consultation exercise, namely dust blow, health and safety of the general public and staff, and operational and local environmental issues.

The assembly of data from the monitoring programme has been continuous throughout the trial – the volume of data collected is considerably greater than the minimum required by the Environment Agency. Where possible, we have appointed independent specialists to handle all aspects of the monitoring programme, from collection to interpretation.

In line with our policy on openness and transparency, all data are available to the public and we have held regular meetings with the Environment Agency, Selby District Council, East Riding of Yorkshire Council, North Yorkshire County Council, and the local Primary Care Trust.

The results of the trial to date indicate that the monitoring programme has been carried out successfully. No significant operational issues have been identified when burning a blend of coal and petcoke and when monitoring handling, transport and transfer operations. The extensive monitoring of both the local environment and the Power Station site has indicated that dust levels have remained similar to those measured during coal-only operation. Importantly, there has been a significant reduction in particulate emissions from the trial unit during the test, resulting in a reduction in overall emissions of nickel and vanadium. The FGD plant has been in service at all times during which a blend of coal/petcoke has been burned.

Overall, the data to date have shown that the total environmental impact for a coal/petcoke blend is similar to that for the plant burning coal only and, therefore, there has been no associated adverse impact on the local environment as a result of the trial.

The collection and interpretation of the data from the trial has been a valuable first step in assembling the case to support our application for full commercial burning of coal/petcoke blends on up to all six units. You can view the supporting documentation and results of the air quality monitoring programme by selecting from the following links: