Drax turns to biomass

DRAX power station has converted a fourth power generating tower to run on biomass rather than coal.

The North Yorkshire power station has two remaining coal units which bosses plan to switch to run on gas. Drax is phasing out coal to help meet government targets to cut out coal and pollution.

Andy Koss, chief executive of Drax Power, said: ‘It will extend the life of the plant, protecting jobs, whilst delivering cleaner, reliable power for millions of homes and businesses.’

Overall in the UK coalfired power generation has fallen by 84pc over the last five years.

Most of the biomass used in Drax’s power plants comes from trees across the southern Us.