United Kingdom – Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is a key component of Drax’s long-term energy strategy, and the company expects to invest around £40 million in its North Yorkshire power station in the first phase of the project in 2022.
According to this investment, Drax has selected Worley to begin the FEED work in 2022 and may work with the company on subsequent design or construction phases of BECCS, subject to a written agreement. In order to make room for the project, Drax will begin relocation and decommissioning work at its North Yorkshire power station as part of its BECCS site preparation.
By 2030, under the government’s Net Zero Strategy, the government hopes to have removed 5 million tonnes of CO2 from engineered removal each year, but the Drax project is expected to remove at least 8 million tonnes of CO2 per year from the atmosphere.
By switching from coal to sustainable biomass, Drax’s power station has reduced emissions by over 90%, making it Europe’s largest decarbonization project. Create and protect thousands of jobs in the north of England by deploying BECCS technology. Kickstart new green industries and make the UK a global leader in negative emissions technology.
The announcement follows Drax’s partnership with Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) Group, which was announced in the Summer. The company also stated its intention to source 80 percent of the construction materials and services from the UK supply chain, which means businesses could benefit from contracts worth hundreds of millions of pounds, creating and protecting jobs across the North and leveling the country. the supply chain
BECCS could be installed at Drax as soon as 2027, delivering the UK’s largest carbon capture project and permanently removing millions of tonnes of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere each year if the government had an effective negative emissions policy and investment framework.
BECCS deployment at Drax’s power station in North Yorkshire has already begun, and if successful it could begin as early as 2024, creating thousands of new jobs.