Drax power station [credit: drax.com]
A glimmer of rational thinking perhaps in the often crazy world of climate-obsessed national energy policy, where reliable power generation tends to get marginalised.
The UK Government has given the go-ahead for Drax to convert up to two of its coal-fired units in North Yorkshire to gas generation, reports Energy Live News.
Drax says the project could enable it to deliver “more reliable and flexible, high efficiency” electricity generation at the power station, contributing towards the nation’s transition to net zero emissions by 2050.
If developed, 1.8GW of capacity would be available from October 2023, displacing less efficient and higher carbon emitting power stations.
Up to 800 jobs are expected to be created during construction.
Drax says it must secure a Capacity Market agreement to underpin the investment needed to develop the first combined cycle generating unit.
Environmental lawyers at ClientEarth had lodged an objection over Drax’s plans for the gas-fired power plant during the approval process, following which the Planning Inspectorate had recommended the project should be refused due to its contribution to greenhouse gas emissions.
However, the government said the gas-fired units would emit less carbon than coal and some fossil fuel capacity would be needed to provide backup for intermittent renewables.
The environmental lawyers are now considering their options following the approval.
Full report here.
via Tallbloke’s Talkshop
October 7, 2019 at 09:54AM
Iowa Climate Science Education 