Drax Power Station submits plans to develop new gas-fired generation and battery storage

Drax Power Station has submitted an application to the Planning Inspectorate for a Development Consent Order (DCO) for its Repower gas generation and battery storage project.

Plans to replace Drax’s two remaining coal generating units with up to 3.6 gigawatts (GW) of gas-fired power generation and up to 200 megawatts (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 a consultation programme with local people, landowners and councils.

The Planning Inspectorate has 28 days to determine if it will accept the application. If accepted, the proposals will be examined by the Planning Inspectorate and then considered by the Secretary of State for Business Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS) with a decision expected in 2019.

By upgrading its existing infrastructure to use gas, Drax will be able to provide more capacity, stability and essential grid services whilst keeping costs low and delivering the government’s commitment to end power generation with unabated coal by 2025.

Andy Koss, Drax Power CEO, said: “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.

“Working with the communities local to the power station has been an integral part of the process. The Repower project could secure the future of the power station beyond 2025 when the government says coal must come off the system.”

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% of the UK’s renewable electricity – enough for four million homes.

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