Power giant Drax is aiming to source 80 per cent of the construction materials and services needed to deliver its climate-saving negative emissions technology from a UK supply chain.
Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage is being brought forward by the huge generator, a multi-billion pound project that is an anchor element of the wider plans for the Humber’s industrial decarbonisation.
Will Gardiner, Drax Group chief executive, said: “BECCS will play a vital role in enabling the UK to reach its legally binding net zero target, as well as saving the energy system billions of pounds in the process.
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“Our ambition is to put the UK supply chain at the heart of delivering this crucial climate saving technology and by doing so we’ll create and protect thousands of new jobs, kickstart new industries and help level up the UK.”
The 80 per cent ambition includes all construction materials needed as part of the deployment, such as steel, pipes, heat pumps, electricals, and insulation, as well as the support services involved in delivery.
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In doing so, Mr Gardiner said BECCS at Drax has the potential to deliver hundreds of millions of pounds worth of contracts for British businesses.
As well as this, BECCS will help protect and create over 10,000 jobs across the region as part of the East Coast Cluster, while developing green skills, kickstarting new industries and helping ‘level up’ the North.
Details emerged as the first in a series of nationwide supplier events was held.
Graham Backhouse, Drax’s commercial director for the BECCS project, said: “Negative emissions technologies like BECCS will play a vital role in enabling the UK to reach its net zero goals. At its peak, BECCS at Drax will protect and create over 10,000 jobs, levelling up the north, and positioning the UK as a global leader in this climate-saving technology.
“This programme of events is a fantastic opportunity for businesses of all sizes to get involved and learn more about the project, and we want to encourage a range of companies from across the country to take part.”
Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce, of which Drax has just become a patron, together with colleagues in West & North Yorkshire Chamber and business support organisation NOF are supporting the supply chain events.
Hull and Humber Chamber of Commerce president Phil Jones welcomes Drax’s Richard Gwilliam as a patron as supply chain engagement cranks up for the huge bionergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) project.Head of cluster development for Drax, Richard Gwilliam, said: “We have made great progress so far, and we’re pleased that the Chamber will be helping us prepare for the next steps that will be taken as we seek planning approval for the BECCS project. Identifying a robust supply chain is key to this project.”
A formal public consultation on the plans will take place in November, when stakeholders will be able to learn more about the proposal and provide feedback as part of the planning process.
Work to build BECCS at Drax could get underway as soon as 2024, with the first BECCS unit operational in 2027 and a second in 2030.
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