The UK government and Drax have agreed to extend subsidies for the company’s 2,580 MW biomass-fired power plant near Selby in North Yorkshire (United Kingdom) over 2027-2031, halving them in comparison to the current period. The power plant will be supported via a low-carbon dispatchable CfD (Contract for Difference) with a strike price of £113/MWh (2012 prices). Under the new agreement, Drax is expected to increase the share of woody biomass sourced from sustainable sources from 70% to 100%. In addition, the power plant will be limited to maximum load factor of 27%, less than half of current levels, only being allowed to run at times when the electricity grid really needs it.
The power plant comprises four 645MW biomass fired units and produces around 14 TWh/year, accounting for around 6% of the country’s electricity. With the help of government subsidies, Drax converted the four units from coal to biomass between 2013 and 2018.
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