The North Yorkshire town of Selby houses one of the UK’s largest power stations, Drax Power Station – responsible for churning out 7% of the country’s electricity.
As the largest single-site renewable electricity generator in the country, the amount of electricity generated from this site is enough to fuel the equivalent of Leeds, Manchester, Sheffield and Liverpool.
As Andy Koss, CEO of Drax Power, points out, ‘as well as being of major significance nationally as the country’s biggest power generator, Drax Power Station continues to play a crucial role in supporting the Northern economy.’
Andy attributes this success to a sophisticated supply chain spanning both the east and west coasts of the country. Remarkably, to supply the Drax Power Station with the sustainable materials it needs to run, Selby sees the arrival of roughly 17 biomass trains each day.
Additionally, he highlights the North of England’s rich heritage of providing energy to the rest of the UK. This is important to Drax, who are aware of their role in delivering a low carbon economy and transforming the way energy is generated, supplied and used across the country.
As well as boosting employment and economic prospects, Andy recognises how making the most of new, carbon-reducing technologies will have a positive impact on our environment. There is vast knowledge, skills and expertise in energy in the region and, by combining this with technologies, the North could play a substantial role in delivering the Government’s Industrial Strategy and decarbonising the economy.