In the UK, Drax Power Station’s application for a Development Consent Order (DCO) for its Repower gas generation and battery storage project has been accepted for examination by the Planning Inspectorate. “I am delighted that the Planning Inspectorate has accepted our application for examination. This is an important milestone for the Repower project and takes us a step closer towards securing the future of the power station", said Andy Koss, CEO at Drax Power.
Plans to replace Drax’s remaining coal generating units with up to 3.6 GW of high-efficiency gas-fired power generation and up to 200 MW of battery storage were first set out in September 2017. Since then the company has been developing engineering and environmental reports for the application, as well as carrying out an extensive consultation programme with local people, landowners, councils and authorities.
The proposals will now be examined by an independent planning inspector before being considered by the Secretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) with a decision expected in 2019.
With our gas Repower plans and the conversion of a fourth generating unit this summer to use biomass instead of coal, we intend to extend the life of the plant, protect jobs and deliver the flexible and reliable power millions of households and businesses need. By upgrading and reusing some of our existing infrastructures to use gas, we will be able to provide more capacity, stability and essential grid services cost-effectively, and deliver the government’s commitment to end power generation with unabated coal by 2025, Andy Koss said.
Drax is already the UK’s largest single-site renewable power generator having converted three coal generating units to use sustainable wood pellets, with the fourth set for this summer. More than two-thirds of the power produced is now renewable, providing 15 percent of the UK’s renewable electricity.
We are committed to involving our local communities in our Repower plans and look forward to engaging with all interested parties over the coming months as the planning process progresses, ended Andy Koss.
