Drax Ouse Renewable Energy Plant

Drax Ouse Renewable Energy Plant
Location of Drax Ouse Renewable Energy Plant
Location	River Ouse, North Yorkshire
Coordinates	53°44′17″N 0°59′46″W / 53.738°N 0.996°W / 53.738; -0.996Coordinates: 53°44′17″N 0°59′46″W / 53.738°N 0.996°W / 53.738; -0.996
Status	Proposed
Developer(s)	Drax Power Limited
Power station information
Primary fuel	Biomass
Power generation information
Maximum capacity	300 MW

Drax Ouse Renewable Energy Plant is one of the three proposed 300 MW biomass-fired renewable energy plants in the United Kingdom, which is developed by Drax Power Limited and Siemens Power Ventures GmbH. A site of the Drax Ouse Renewable Energy Plant adjacent to the current Drax Power Station on the River Ouse near Selby in North Yorkshire.

Description

The site has been selected as a potential location due to its proximity to the existing Drax Power Station infrastructure, including rail and road off-loading facilities, water supply and discharge capability, and existing connection to the electricity transmission network. In addition, the adjacent buildings and structures of the existing Drax Power Station will minimise the visual impact of the proposed plant.

The plant will consume approximately 1.4 million tonnes of biomass per year (dependent upon the actual types of biomass material used). Although imported biomass will initially made up much of the fuel source, Drax is keen to develop the use of indigenous biomass fuels where available and are encouraging the development of local energy crops and other renewable supplies. The Drax Ouse Renewable Energy Plant is predicted to result in a saving of 1,800,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO₂) from fossil fuels each year, and to provide enough electricity to power 512,000 homes.

The plant will be water-cooled, using the water from the nearby River Ouse, and biomass fuel will be transferred to the site via conveyors from off-loading facilities. Electricity will be exported from the plant on to the national electricity transmission network.

It is anticipated that the flue gas stack will be 100 metres (330 ft) tall, the boiler house approximately 60 metres in height and the cooling towers approximately 20–25 metres (66–82 ft) tall.

The planning process

The proposal requires consent from the Department of Energy and Climate Change (DECC). Drax intends to also consult with Selby District Council, North Yorkshire County Council, the Environment Agency, Natural England, members of the public and a range of other organisations.