18.05.2018

Drax CCS Project Takes First Step Towards Negative Emissions

The Carbon Capture and Storage Association (CCSA) welcomes the announcement from Drax that it will launch a new pilot bio-energy CO2 Capture project at its power station in North Yorkshire. The project, which will be undertaken in partnership with Leeds University spin-out company C-Capture, will investigate a new solvent to capture emissions from the biomass flue gas at the Drax power station. Capturing CO2 from biomass and permanently storing the CO2 – known as bio-energy CCS or BECCS – enables the removal of carbon dioxide that is already in the atmosphere.

Dr. Luke Warren, Chief Executive of the CCSA, commented:

“Today’s announcement represents an important step forward in the development of technology that can capture and store carbon dioxide from sustainable bio-energy to deliver negative emissions.

It is clear that negative emissions are likely to be needed if we are to deliver on UK and global climate change goals.

The UK Government is currently developing a CCUS Deployment Pathway, which is due to be published by the end of this year. It will be important to ensure that BECCS is part of this pathway alongside the development of CCUS to reduce existing emissions from industry, heat, power and transport.”

Download PDF ↓