Drax , One of the largest biomass and coal fired power station in England has dropped its plan to build a gas plant in Europe after climate protests.
The power station confirmed that it would drop plans to build two combined cycle gas turbines(CCGT) replacing two coal burning units at the Drax site.
The decision to drop the plans came after three years of opposition from green groups,
who argued it was conflicting with the United kingdoms determination to lead the world in reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
Will Gardiner, The Chief Executive officer of Drax Group Said:
“Our focus is on renewable power. Our carbon intensity is one of the lowest of all European power generators,”
“We aim to be carbon negative by2030 and are continuing to make progress,”
“We are announcing today that we will not develop new gas-fired power at Drax,”
The electricity generator hopes its use of bioenergy combined with carbon capture and storage technology will mean it will in time be able to remove more carbon emissions from the atmosphere.
The decision to scrap the new project will cost Drax a staggering 13 million euros, according to its annual financial reports.
In the year 2020 the power plant had reported 156 million euros of operating loss.
Environmentalists and Scientists have questioned the biomass burning and
whether shipping the wood pellets and growing trees can be considered sustainable.
Drax was able to scientifically prove that biomass can be considered as a clean energy source.
Drax claims that using carbon capture technology to trap the emissions
from the burning wood at its sites would make its power plant carbon negative by 2030.
The claims are disputed by scientists and green groups.
