Drax powers ahead with plans to ditch coal
This was up from 43 per cent in 2015, bringing it closer to its long term goal of being 100 per cent biomass.
The North Yorkshire firm, once one of the biggest polluters in Europe, saw it is new producing enough renewable electricity to power Sheffield, Leeds, Liverpool and Manchester.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdDrax described 2016 as a pivotal year for the company despite very challenging power and commodity markets.
The group reported earnings of £140m in the year to December 31, in line with guidance, but still below the £169m reported in 2015.
Drax CEO Dorothy Thompson said: “2016 began with some of the most challenging power and commodity markets I have seen in my career and in a similar way to 2015 this created a headwind to profitability.”
Andy Koss, chief executive of Drax Power, said the firm now has three units, out of six, fully running on biomass.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“We stand ready to convert more and we’re in discussions with the Government. If we got the green light we could convert fully to biomass within two years,” he said.
“The Government remain supportive of biomass. They recognise the achievements we’ve made.”
The group said that the strong operational performance across its business helped it to respond to the financial challenge posed by the difficult commodity markets and the removal of Climate Change Levy exemptions.
It said its biomass units delivered a record level of renewable electricity.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdDrax produced 16 per cent of the UK’s renewable electricity from sustainable wood pellets in 2016. Coal contributed just 9 per cent of Britain’s electricity during 2016, down from 42 per cent in 2012.
Carbon emissions from the generation of electricity at Drax power station fell by 53 per cent in 2016.
The firm said that despite a background of significant political change in the UK, it has seen no fall out from the EU referendum.
Ms Thompson said: “In general, the Brexit vote did not affect us because our electricity is used in UK homes and businesses.
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide Ad“We purchase large quantities of fuel in foreign currency. However, we are well hedged against currency fluctuations for the next five years including the devaluation of sterling in 2016.”
Drax said that the Government’s decision to apply the Climate Change Levy to renewables had a significant effect on its results, reducing earnings by an estimated £34m in 2016. On a more positive note, the European Commission approved its Contract for Difference (CfD).
Drax said wood pellet prices have fallen following three warm winters in Europe where there is a large market for wood pellets for heating.
Mr Koss said: “This is good for us as we can pick up distress cargoes. Some pellet plants in the US are having financial difficulties.”
Advertisement
Hide AdAdvertisement
Hide AdDrax is developing plans to build four state-of the-art rapid response open cycle gas turbine (OCGT) power stations, which could, at the flick of a switch, be running at capacity within 10 minutes.
These more flexible plants will provide system support to the Grid and plug gaps created by intermittent renewables like solar and wind. The projects will also help the Government achieve carbon saving targets.