Associated British Ports (ABP) and Drax Power Limited (Drax) have signed an agreement for Drax to secure rights over land to site two 300MW dedicated biomass-fired power stations at ABP’s Ports of Immingham and Hull.
Drax recently announced plans to develop a 900MW biomass-fired generation business, a move that will make a significant contribution to the UK’s renewable generating capacity and the security of the nation’s energy supply.
The port sites are two of three that will be developed into 100% renewable power stations through a joint development agreement between Drax and Siemens Project Ventures.
The sites at the Ports of Immingham and Hull offer an ideal logistical resource to receive and handle large volumes of biomass material, say the companies. The developments will also provide the impetus for the existing facilities at the Port of Immingham’s Humber International Terminal to be enhanced. In addition, the development of the plant at Hull will be a catalyst for the realisation of a deep-water riverside bulk-handling facility at the port.
Dorothy Thompson, chief executive of Drax, said: “Through our established commercial relationship with ABP, we have identified good logistics hubs critical to our further move into renewable generation.
"Once our dedicated biomass-fired power stations are operational, Drax will be responsible for 15% of the UK’s renewable power and up to 10% of the UK’s total electricity.”
