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INDUSTRY NEWS Supporting sustainability at Drax F


or the last seven years, ESG has supported the Drax Group in its goal to reduce carbon emissions and in March, 2015, the company was awarded a five-year contract to continue fuel testing and analy- sis work at this major UK power generating plant.


As the country prioritises a low carbon economy, Drax, which is responsible for generating approxi- mately 7-8% of the UK’s electricity, is undergoing a radical transi- tion at its plant near Selby, North Yorkshire. The single largest power plant in the country, is transforming itself into a predominantly biomass- fuelled electricity generator. Histori- cally fuelled by coal, three of Drax’s six units are now producing energy from biomass.


By replacing coal with sustain- able biomass, pellets made from low grade wood sourced from commercial forestry, timber pro- cessing operations and agricultural crops, Drax has achieved carbon savings of more than 80% com- pared to coal and has now saved its 20 millionth tonne of carbon, making it Europe’s single largest decarbonisation project.


The volatile nature of the global energy market required Drax to establish reliable sources of sustainable biomass to fire its gen- erators. A changing regulatory and legislative landscape, also means that any operational transforma- tion will need to be adaptable to remain compliant in the medium and long-term.


A supply of consistently high- quality fuel was necessary to en- sure the long-term viability of the conversion from coal to biomass. Initially, locally grown willow was used as the primary source of fuel, but now the majority of this is imported from North America. In the United States, the organisation is developing new fuel sources and has developed manufacturing capability and distribution channels. Through a US subsidiary, Drax manufactures biomass for self-supply in the form


CASE STUDY


of wood pellets for export to gen- erate renewable power in Britain. While biomass benefits from be- ing a renewable source of energy and reducing carbon emissions, it poses a unique set of issues for power generators. Biomass ash can contain significant amounts of inorganic constituents, including sulphur, chlorine and potassium, the burning of which create salts that have the potential to impair the performance of power gener- ating capabilities. Differing sources of biomass contain different amounts of these materials and ensuring all fuel is compliant with their specification is a key way that Drax control fuel-related risks. To diversify fuel sources, Drax now burns biomass made from residual agricultural products, in- cluding wheat straw and oat husks. Miscanthus, a fast-growing type of grass that thrives in poor conditions, is another alternative source of fuel. Whilst fuel innovation reduces the reliance on any one source biomass, it does, however, create a challenge to ensure new fuels are compliant with industry standards. Seeking locally-based techni- cal expertise and in-depth testing capability, Drax engaged ESG, the first laboratory in the UK to gain extensive accreditation for the analysis of solid biofuels. It


has played a crucial role in Drax’s decarbonisation effort, provid- ing support and expert guidance, together with a wide range of fuel-testing services for the plant’s road, rail and ship consignments. The company’s chief remit is to measure the quality of all fuels purchased, so that Drax can en- sure they fit within their specifi- cation, safeguarding the plant’s critical equipment.


The Drax project is led by George Bradley, ESG’s Energy & Waste Services Business Man- ager, who is the UK Principal Expert on the ISO Solid Biofuel Working Committee. This active involvement with developing new international solid biofuel sampling and analysis standards ensures ESG can provide the most up-to- date consultancy and guidance on forthcoming regulatory changes. ESG engages with key energy industry stakeholder groups, such as Ofgem, to guarantee that Drax’s operations are continuously up-to-date and in line with regula- tions. ESG also supports Drax in its efforts to meet the UK’s Renewa- bles Obligation, a commitment for power companies to generate more electricity from renewable sources.


To meet the challenges posed by diverse fuel sources, ESG car-


ries out sampling and analysis of all fuels used at Drax, including coal and a range of solid biofuel pellets. ESG provides onsite fuel sampling and analysis, as well as portside services, sampling incom- ing fuel cargoes at strategic port locations. ESG is also providing guidance on mechanical sampling regimes and equipment at these ports. This certifies compliance for all fuel that Drax uses, while also making sure it meets the highest technical specification. The services that ESG offers Drax include the use of a UKAS accredited testing laboratory No.0001. By utilising ESG’s state of the art mobile labs, technicians are able to check and process bio- mass and coal samples onsite on a rapid turnaround basis.


ESG’s work with Drax also sees the full implementation of an RFID (radio-frequency identification) scanning system for biofuel sam- ples. The RFID scanner streamlines the process of tracking biofuel samples with the results being sent through to Drax’s internal systems automatically. This process reduces paperwork onsite and increases the transparency and efficiency of sample tracking.


More information from www.esg.co.uk/sectors/ energy-waste/


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