Development of UK CCS and BECCS business model

Drax Group PLC

20 December 2023

 

20 December 2023

Drax Group plc

("Drax", "the Group", "Drax Group", "the Company"; Symbol: DRX)

Development of UK CCS infrastructure and BECCS business model

Drax notes the announcement by the UK Government of further policy support for the development of carbon capture utilisation and storage clusters (CCUS) in the UK, including an update on the Track-1 expansion and Track-2 processes.

The UK Government has also reiterated its ambition to deploy at least 5 MtCO₂/year of engineered greenhouse gas removals by 2030, potentially scaling to 23 MtCO₂/year by 2035 and up to 81 MtCO₂/year by 2050, and published its latest position on the design of a Power BECCS business model, which includes a 15-year CfD with a dual payment mechanism linked to both low-carbon electricity and negative emissions.

Drax Group CEO, Will Gardiner said: "Today's announcements by the Government will further progress the development of CCUS clusters in the UK and are an important step forward in facilitating the deployment of large-scale BECCS.

"We welcome the publication of further details on a BECCS business model and the Government's continued commitment to deploy at least five million tonnes of greenhouse gas removals by 2030, which we believe can only be achieved through delivering BECCS at Drax Power Station.

"BECCS has the potential to deliver carbon removals whilst generating renewable power and installing this technology at Drax Power Station will enable it to continue to play a critical role in the UK's energy security, creating and supporting thousands of jobs in the Humber region and helping the country meet its Net Zero targets."

Details of the update from the UK Government:

Track-1 expansion - the Government has agreed Heads of Terms with the operator of the East Coast Cluster CO₂ transport and storage network and will now consider the best time to launch an expansion process for the East Coast Cluster from 2024.

Track-2 cluster deployment - the Government has confirmed plans for the assessment of an initial "anchor phase" of capture projects connecting to the Acorn and Viking clusters, which will target projects for deployment in 2028/9, and the development of a "buildout phase" for additional projects to connect thereafter.

The updates on Track-1 expansion and Track-2 cluster deployment continue to affirm that there are two potential routes which could support BECCS at Drax Power Station as well as wider CCS projects in the Humber region by 2030 - the East Coast Cluster and Viking CCS cluster. Drax is in discussions with all relevant stakeholders in the region about the potential of deploying BECCS at Drax Power Station.

Separately, Drax continues to expect that a public consultation on a bridging mechanism will commence shortly.

Links to documents.

https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/carbon-capture-usage-and-storage-ccus-december-2023-statement/ccus-december-2023-statement

https://assets.publishing.service.gov.uk/media/6581851efc07f3000d8d447d/ggr-power-beccs-business-models-december-2023.pdf

Enquiries:

Drax Investor Relations: Mark Strafford

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Media:

Drax External Communications: Chris Mostyn / Andy Low

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Website: www.Drax.com

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