Drax Announces Two New Pellet Facilities in the US South to Support its Conversion to Biomass Power

UK power company Drax recently announced plans to convert three of its six generating units at the Drax Power Station in Selby, England to sustainable biomass. Conversion of the first unit is scheduled to be complete in 2Q2013, with a second following in 2014.

To help ensure a sustainable supply of biomass to the converted units, Drax announced plans to build two pellet manufacturing facilities in the US. For the first facility, Drax will invest $120 million to build a 500,000 ton pellet plant in Bastrop, Louisiana and a storage and shipping facility at the Port of Greater Baton Rouge. Roughly one million green tons of wood will be sourced from surrounding timberland to supply the plant. Construction is slated to begin early in 2013.

A second facility, also set to break ground in the first part of 2013, will follow in Gloster, Mississippi. With a capacity of 500,000 tons of pellets annually, this plant will also consume approximately one million tons of wood annually.

As part of its move to biomass power generation, Drax has developed sustainability principles for its procurement processes. According to the company’s website, this includes ensuring that the production and delivery of biomass will:

• “Significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions compared with coal-fired generation and give preference to biomass sources that maximise this benefit.
• “Not result in a net release of carbon from the vegetation and soil of either forests or agricultural lands.
• “Not endanger food supply or communities where the use of biomass is essential for subsistence (for example, heat, medicines, building materials).
• “Not adversely affect protected or vulnerable biodiversity and where possible we will give preference to biomass production that strengthens biodiversity.
• “Deploy good practices to protect and/or improve soil, water (both ground and surface) and air quality.
• “Contribute to local prosperity in the area of supply chain management and biomass production.
• “Contribute to the social well being of employees and the local population in the area of the biomass production.”

To help it secure what could be two million tons of wood annually from sustainable sources that meet these criteria, Drax has entered into a long-term (10-year) supply agreement with Plum Creek Timber, which owns 413,000 acres in Louisiana and 594,000 acres in Mississippi. All of Plum Creek’s timberland is certified to Sustainable Forestry Initiative (SFI) standards. According to the agreement, Plum Creek will deliver up to 770,000 tons per year to the two facilities starting in 2014.

Comments

James Spillman

06-04-2014

Why don’t American utilities convert to this fuel source? America’s dependence on hydrocarbons and coal is such a manipulated fuel at the consumers expense. Our conversion to alternative and sustainable fuels are to the benefit to everyone.