Drax Power Station - Environmental Effects

Environmental Effects

The environmental effects of coal burning are well documented, the most significant of which is global warming, caused by the release of carbon dioxide (CO₂) into the Earth's atmosphere. Coal is considered to be "easily the most carbon-intensive and polluting form of energy generation available". In 2007 Drax produced 22,160,000 tonnes of CO₂, making it the largest single source of CO₂ in the UK. Between 2000 and 2007, there has been a net increase in carbon dioxide CO₂ of over 3,000,000 tonnes. Drax power station also has the highest estimated emissions of nitrogen oxide (NO_x) in the European Union.

In 2007, in a move to try to lower the station's CO₂ emissions, Drax Group signed a £100 million contract with Siemens Power Generation to re-blade the station's steam turbines over the course of four years. This is the largest steam turbine modernisation ever undertaken in the UK, and will increase the station's efficiency. This, coupled with the co-firing of biomass, is part of a target to reduce the station's CO₂ emissions by 15% by 2011.