7 September 2007
A coal-fired power station in North Yorkshire has released figures showing it is ahead of schedule in its promise to cut carbon emissions and improve efficiency.
Officials at Europe's largest power station, Drax, in Selby, said that it is to start installing the first high-pressure turbine later this month in a bid to cut its CO2 emissions.
The site also plans to reduce CO2 emissions by replacing more coal it burns with renewable plant biomass. It has also set itself a target of generating 10% of its electricity by burning biomass such as willow sticks or elephant grass by 2009.
Burning sunflower and olive waste had increased biomass levels to 4%, Chief Executive Dorothy Thompson said.
"The UK forward markets for the coming winter are indicating that gas plant will be the predominant price setting plant with margins for coal-fired generators remaining attractive, albeit significantly lower than for the same period last year," Drax commented.
Although deemed the cleanest power station in the UK, the plant is the nation's worst offender in terms of CO2 production, generating over seven per cent of the Britain's electricity.
Drax emitted 22.7 million tonnes of CO2 in 2006.
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