DRAX DEVOTION: Green energy pin-up is cooler than Taylor Swift
POP queen Taylor Swift may be the pin up on millions of bedroom walls around the world - but not at the Camblesforth home of Jenny Twentyman.
The 28-year-old mum of two worships a different towering icon. She has pictures of the cooling towers at Drax Power Station...the poster boy of sustainable green energy.
"Many people have pictures of Taylor Swift on their bedroom wall. I've got pictures of the cooling towers. I really have," beams Jenny, a development engineer, part of the civil engineering team which keeps the site running.
"I'm so proud to be part of Drax. Anybody that knows me knows that I constantly go on about working here. I love the cooling towers. My news feed, on my Facebook, is covered in cooling tower pictures. I absolutely love Drax and everybody says that I bleed turbine blue."
Her Drax devotion speaks volumes about the pride, conviction and commitment of those who work to keep the power on.
As it rocks on, celebrating 50 years of innovation and resilience, the largest power station in the country today powers 4 million UK homes, contributes £358 million to the local economy and supports 2,500 jobs, including around 1,000 on site.
In the fight against climate change it has transformed from burning coal to wood waste pellets, known as biomass.
It also has a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, with plans to invest billions in pioneering carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology, to store underground the carbon dioxide produced during biomass combustion.
The aim is to store eight million tonnes of carbon dioxide - equivalent to removing three million cars off the road.
No wonder Jenny is a huge fan of this colossal rock star of industry.
Just like TayTay, Drax, with its visual appeal and symbolism, inspires dedication, admiration, and a sense of belonging.
"It's stood the test of time and we're here to ensure it can go into the future for another 50 years," adds Jenny.
"I live near, so when I wake up in the morning I see Drax. My children go to school in Drax village. They want to work here when they're older, so it's a really big part of my family and plenty of families that are in the community around here.
"Drax isn't just a job to me. It's my life."
Plant Director Bruce Heppenstall understands why the power station, with its landscape dominating iconic towers, is so revered as a monumental symbol of energy innovation and sustainability.
He said: "I love our cooling towers too. I drive in every day immensely proud of what I see. So I can totally get why you'd have a cooling tower on your wall."
Over its five-decade-long journey, it has played a critical role in the regional, national, and global energy landscape.
From its origins as a coal-fired powerhouse to its present role as a leader in renewable energy, Drax has continually evolved to meet changing needs. Its impact on Yorkshire, the UK, and the global community is profound, encompassing economic, social and environmental dimensions.
As the largest power station in the UK, it plays a pivotal role in the nation's energy infrastructure.
Its shift to renewable energy has helped reduce reliance on fossil fuels and imported energy, contributing to energy security and economic resilience.
Ambitious plans for BECCS and continued investments in renewable energy promise to shape the future of energy production in the UK and globally.
By capturing and storing carbon dioxide, Drax aims to become carbon-negative, removing more CO2 from the atmosphere than it emits. This ambitious goal could have a transformative impact on global efforts to address climate change, as well as help the new UK government meet its green energy goal to completely decarbonise the grid by 2030 – five years earlier than planned.
Drax is taking the knowledge and technology it has developed in North Yorkshire worldwide, pushing forward a global market for carbon-negative technologies that’s expected to be worth over 1 trillion dollars by 2050. Earlier this year Drax announced plans for a new, U.S.-based business. Headquartered in Houston, Texas, the business will oversee the development and construction of new-build BECCS plants in the U.S. and internationally.
Bruce, age 54, told how Drax also invests in community initiatives, supporting education and social programs. Drax has funded scholarships, sponsored events and supported STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) education programs, encouraging future engineers and scientists.
He said: "Drax power station is a really important part of the local Yorkshire economy. We contribute over £358 million to the economy and we support 2,500 jobs.
"Drax Power Station itself currently employs around 1,000 people in high quality, high added value jobs. When we put carbon capture and storage onto the site, we expect that to create around 10,000 jobs in the construction supply chain and operational roles to continue here for many years.
"I'm really proud to be able to lead the fantastic business we've got here at Drax power station. My grandfather came from the local area. He was leader of the Council of Selby, so I've got deep family roots here.
"I'm tremendously proud of everybody that works here and what we achieve every day.
He added: "From the power station that is here, just outside Selby, we're gradually making Drax into a truly global energy company. We've got offices now in Houston, in Tokyo, and we are looking to then take the technology we've developed here and export that to the USA and make carbon capture using sustainable biomass a reality there too. It all starts here, in Yorkshire.
"We really feel our roots, in the heart of Yorkshire. The support we get from the local communities, politicians, local groups and from the people, our neighbours, is tremendously important to us. For many people here, myself included, it is very much a vocation.'`
DRAX IN NUMBERS:
* 1974: The year that Drax Power Station was commissioned.
* 4 Million: The number of UK homes already powered by Drax with a capacity of 3,906 Megawatts.
* £358 million: Drax contribution to the local economy.
* 2,500: Number of jobs supported including around 1,000 at Drax
* 80%: Reduction in CO2 emissions - down 12 million tonnes annually - since switching from coal to biomass.
* 5 countries: Number of countries sourcing biomass for Drax.
* 2030: Drax hopes to have BECCS online, to be carbon negative, by 2030.
* £2 billion: Planned investment in carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology.
* 10,000: Number of jobs which could be created during BECCS construction.
* 8 million tonnes: Amount of carbon dioxide the plant aims to capture - equivalent to removing 3 million cars off the road.
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