DRAX AT 50: Happy New era as green power station celebrates golden milestone

As the world prepared to ring in the New Year with parties, champagne and the strains of Auld Lang Syne, few could have imagined that earlier history was quietly being made in the heart of Yorkshire.

While the clinking of glasses and countdowns to midnight were still hours away, the first unit of Drax Power Station began to power our homes and businesses, writes Graham Walker.

The game-changing moment - at precisely 11.30am - was exactly 50 years ago today, also a Tuesday, on December 31, 1974.

But in true Yorkshire fashion it was marked with the same understated modesty that defines the region's character. No pomp or circumstance, no red button countdown - just a practical and matter-of-fact recognition of job done.

Drax Power Station is 50 today and on track for a happy new golden era of green energy Drax Power Station is 50 today and on track for a happy new golden era of green energy
Drax Power Station is 50 today and on track for a happy new golden era of green energy | Drax Group

In truth he plant was sparked into life for checks and testing months earlier but today’s golden anniversary marks when original boss Gerry Vickers, signed it off for 'commercial operation’ to supply the grid.

Fifty years on, Plant Director Bruce Heppenstall says the milestone recognises renewable energy leader Drax's five decades of global contribution and transformation.

The UK's biggest power station started out as a coal-fired titan, originally built to harness the mighty Selby coalfields, and is now a renewable energy pioneer.

It converted from coal to biomass in 2018, heralding a new era of Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) by 2030, to remove carbon from the atmosphere and lock it underground, in depleted oil and gas reservoirs under the North Sea. A vital part of the UK's plan for net zero by 2050.

Carbon capture to actually remove carbon from the atmosphere is what's going to keep the plant running for hopefully another 50 years, says Plant Director Bruce Heppenstall.Carbon capture to actually remove carbon from the atmosphere is what's going to keep the plant running for hopefully another 50 years, says Plant Director Bruce Heppenstall.
Carbon capture to actually remove carbon from the atmosphere is what's going to keep the plant running for hopefully another 50 years, says Plant Director Bruce Heppenstall. | Drax Group

There's much to celebrate, from powering 4 million homes to supporting over 6,500 jobs, including 1,000 on site, with up to 10,000 more construction jobs set to deliver BECCS.

Drax contributes £358 million annually to the region's economy. A community champion, it donates laptops and fits solar panels to schools. It has educated thousands of children with site visits to see what operating low carbon, renewable generation actually means.

Leading the charge towards a greener, more sustainable world of resilience and reinvention, it is a symbol of Yorkshire grit and global innovation.

Today it will light up its iconic towers with a special 50th anniversary projection.

Half century celebrations have already included a party thrown for past employees - including Gerry, who recently celebrated his own centenary.

Golden celebrations included a party for former employees - including original Drax Power Station Superintendent Gerry Vickers, seated front left, who turned 100 this year.Golden celebrations included a party for former employees - including original Drax Power Station Superintendent Gerry Vickers, seated front left, who turned 100 this year.
Golden celebrations included a party for former employees - including original Drax Power Station Superintendent Gerry Vickers, seated front left, who turned 100 this year. | Drax Group

Drax unveiled a special golden-liveried locomotive and matching biomass wagon, photographed crossing the famous Victorian viaduct on the scenic Settle-Carlisle line towards Tyne Dock. It has organised train passenger trips around the plant, raising over £30,000 for children's hospice Martin House, and collaborated with the Yorkshire Post on a three-part documentary series reflecting on the power station's achievements and vision for the future, focusing on energy security, job creation, skills development, and decarbonisation efforts.

WATCH HERE: View the documentary series here https://www.drax.com/50

FREE e-MAG: Read The Yorkshire Post's special Draxpower station 50th anniversary 12 page supplement, taking an in depth look at its padt, present nd future - now online as free page turning eMag with video, links and more below, or at bit.ly/YPDraxAt50Magazine.

Bruce, aged 54, says: "We've done a lot of celebrating this year, throughout the year. We're putting the 50th logo on the cooling towers and I'll be in to see the shift team that's on. Many people will be with their families celebrating the New Year, but certainly we'll do something with the shift team.

"Thoughts will also be with Gerry and that original station team. We'll be raising a glass to all those that went before and how we've been able to stand on their shoulders."

It was a different world in 1974.The nation’s energy future seemed precarious as Ted Heath’s Conservative government grappled with the turbulence of the three-day week in its battle to preserve energy during an industrial pay dispute with coal miners. Power cuts were commonplace, plunging Britain into darkness, with people turning to candles and torches. And the unthinkable. TV stations were ordered to stop broadcasting after 10.30pm - except over Christmas and New Year's Eve.

Drax Power Station began supplying the national grid to help power our homes and businesses 50 years ago today on Tuesday, December 31, 1974 - at precisely 11.30amDrax Power Station began supplying the national grid to help power our homes and businesses 50 years ago today on Tuesday, December 31, 1974 - at precisely 11.30am
Drax Power Station began supplying the national grid to help power our homes and businesses 50 years ago today on Tuesday, December 31, 1974 - at precisely 11.30am | Drax Group

Blissfully unaware of his significant future role in green energy production a then four-year-old Bruce would probably have been more excited about the new Mr Men animated TV series, which was first broadcast on that same New Year's Eve.

"I was still playing with my toy trains at that point, not realising 50 years on I'd have my own real train set," beamed Bruce, who explained how 125 trains now arrive at platform Drax every week, each hauling around 22 wagons and 1,600 tons of all important sustainable biomass wood pellets - the forestry industry wood waste which has replaced coal to fire up the plant.

Drax 50 Golden Wagon and locomotive crossing Victorian viaduct on the scenic Settle-Carlisle line Drax 50 Golden Wagon and locomotive crossing Victorian viaduct on the scenic Settle-Carlisle line
Drax 50 Golden Wagon and locomotive crossing Victorian viaduct on the scenic Settle-Carlisle line | Drax Group

"Our Golden Wagon for the 50th celebrations was a bit like something out of Willy Wonka. That's exactly what the intention was. It got a lot of coverage on social media.”

For Bruce, this isn't just a job - it’s a legacy. The man at the helm has a deep personal connection to Yorkshire which runs as powerfully as the turbines he oversees.

His grandfather, Jack Heppenstall, a twice former leader of Selby Council, helped shape the community that Drax continues to power and support.

Bruce as a boy playing with his train set with his inspirational grandfather, Jack Heppenstall, and father David.Bruce as a boy playing with his train set with his inspirational grandfather, Jack Heppenstall, and father David.
Bruce as a boy playing with his train set with his inspirational grandfather, Jack Heppenstall, and father David. | Bruce Heppenstall

Bruce says: "I really felt a strong connection with him. He inspired me to do what I do, as did my father who worked at what was then Bass Brewery in Tadcaster. A great grandfather of mine ran a coal gas plant up in the Northeast.

"There's been a massive change in our lives just as Drax has changed hugely over the last years.

"Looking forward, putting carbon capture onto the remaining units to actually remove carbon from the atmosphere is what's going to keep the plant running for hopefully another 50 years, providing high paid, valuable jobs. We'll capture up to eight million tons of carbon a year. That's the equivalent of all the departing flights out of Heathrow for a year."

He revealed Drax have created a new US company called Elimini, to transform carbon removals into a world-changing reality potentially investing billions of dollars in the US, which may include building a power plant, and billions of pounds in the UK.

To critics he said: "Come talk to us and understand exactly where the wood pellets come from and why they are renewable and sustainable. We can work together to make carbon capture here a reality.”

Engineers checking out the biomass domesEngineers checking out the biomass domes
Engineers checking out the biomass domes | Drax

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