Drax
Drax Headquarters Location
Drax, North Yorkshire, England
About Us
Drax Group is a renewable energy company engaged in renewable power generation, the production of sustainable biomass and the sale of renewable electricity to businesses.
Drax operates a generation portfolio of sustainable biomass, hydro-electric and pumped hydro storage assets across four sites in England and Scotland. It is the UK’s largest source of renewable electricity. The company also operates a global bioenergy supply business with manufacturing facilities at 13 sites in the United States and Canada, producing compressed wood pellets for its own use and for customers in Europe and Asia.
The Group employs 3,400 people in the UK and North America.
Enabling a zero carbon, lower cost energy future is Drax Group’s purpose and in 2019, it announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere at scale whilst delivering reliable renewable electricity.
Strategic AimsDrax operates a generation portfolio of sustainable biomass, hydro-electric and pumped hydro storage assets across four sites in England and Scotland. It is the UK’s largest source of renewable electricity. The company also operates a global bioenergy supply business with manufacturing facilities at 13 sites in the United States and Canada, producing compressed wood pellets for its own use and for customers in Europe and Asia.
The Group employs 3,400 people in the UK and North America.
Enabling a zero carbon, lower cost energy future is Drax Group’s purpose and in 2019, it announced a world-leading ambition to be carbon negative by 2030, using Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology to remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere at scale whilst delivering reliable renewable electricity.
A Global leader in sustainable biomass pellets
Drax believes that the global market for sustainable biomass will grow significantly, creating opportunities for sales to third parties in Asia and Europe, BECCS, generation and other long-term uses of biomass. Delivery of these opportunities is supported by the expansion of the Group’s biomass pellet production capacity.
A Global leader in negative emissions
Subject to the right regulatory environment, Drax plans to transform Drax Power Station into the world’s biggest carbon capture project using BECCS to permanently remove 8Mt of CO2 emissions from the atmosphere each year by 2030. The project is well developed, the technology is proven and an investment decision could be taken in 2024 with the first BECCS unit operational in 2027 and a second in 2030, subject to the right investment framework.
A UK leader in dispatchable, renewable generation
The UK’s plans to achieve net zero by 2050 will require the electrification of heating and transport systems, resulting in a significant increase in demand for electricity. Drax believes that over 80% of this could be met by intermittent renewable and inflexible low-carbon energy sources – wind, solar and nuclear. However, this will only be possible if the remaining power sources can provide the dispatchable power and non-generation system support services the power system requires to ensure security of supply and to limit the cost to the consumer.
SustainabilityDrax believes that the global market for sustainable biomass will grow significantly, creating opportunities for sales to third parties in Asia and Europe, BECCS, generation and other long-term uses of biomass. Delivery of these opportunities is supported by the expansion of the Group’s biomass pellet production capacity.
A Global leader in negative emissions
Subject to the right regulatory environment, Drax plans to transform Drax Power Station into the world’s biggest carbon capture project using BECCS to permanently remove 8Mt of CO2 emissions from the atmosphere each year by 2030. The project is well developed, the technology is proven and an investment decision could be taken in 2024 with the first BECCS unit operational in 2027 and a second in 2030, subject to the right investment framework.
A UK leader in dispatchable, renewable generation
The UK’s plans to achieve net zero by 2050 will require the electrification of heating and transport systems, resulting in a significant increase in demand for electricity. Drax believes that over 80% of this could be met by intermittent renewable and inflexible low-carbon energy sources – wind, solar and nuclear. However, this will only be possible if the remaining power sources can provide the dispatchable power and non-generation system support services the power system requires to ensure security of supply and to limit the cost to the consumer.
Sustainable Development
At Drax, we believe that achieving a positive economic, social and environmental impact is key to delivering long-term value creation. We are committed to creating a business model where financial performance, value creation and sustainability outcomes are aligned.
Sustainable Development Framework
As our global footprint grows, we recognise the need for an ambitious plan shaped around the global sustainability agenda, whilst recognising our responsibilities to the local areas and communities where we operate. Our sustainable development framework defines three sustainability outcomes for the business, and aligns our objectives to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Climate positive
Nature positive
People positive
Governance
The Board has ultimate responsibility for the Group’s sustainability performance and receives quarterly environment, social and governance updates from the CEO. The Executive Committee, chaired by the CEO, oversees performance.
The Group Director of Sustainability leads Drax’s sustainability programme and reports to the Director of Corporate Affairs, a member of the Executive Committee.
CareersAt Drax, we believe that achieving a positive economic, social and environmental impact is key to delivering long-term value creation. We are committed to creating a business model where financial performance, value creation and sustainability outcomes are aligned.
Sustainable Development Framework
As our global footprint grows, we recognise the need for an ambitious plan shaped around the global sustainability agenda, whilst recognising our responsibilities to the local areas and communities where we operate. Our sustainable development framework defines three sustainability outcomes for the business, and aligns our objectives to the UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).
Climate positive
Nature positive
People positive
Governance
The Board has ultimate responsibility for the Group’s sustainability performance and receives quarterly environment, social and governance updates from the CEO. The Executive Committee, chaired by the CEO, oversees performance.
The Group Director of Sustainability leads Drax’s sustainability programme and reports to the Director of Corporate Affairs, a member of the Executive Committee.
We believe investing in our people goes hand-in-hand with enabling the green energy transformation and positive future growth.
Our people are what makes us, so we place a strong emphasis on attracting, training and retaining great talent. We’re looking for inspiring, motivated people to help us as we make the pioneering move away from coal to lower carbon, storage and renewable energy sources of the future.
Why Drax?
We believe in developing the skills and talents of our staff, and so we make opportunities for training a high priority for everyone. That means everyone gets the chance to shape their careers in the way they want to progress and to contribute to our continued success.
As well as providing numerous possibilities to enhance your career, we also offer several additional benefits to our employees, such as bonus and a quality pension scheme.
Our cultureOur people are what makes us, so we place a strong emphasis on attracting, training and retaining great talent. We’re looking for inspiring, motivated people to help us as we make the pioneering move away from coal to lower carbon, storage and renewable energy sources of the future.
Why Drax?
We believe in developing the skills and talents of our staff, and so we make opportunities for training a high priority for everyone. That means everyone gets the chance to shape their careers in the way they want to progress and to contribute to our continued success.
As well as providing numerous possibilities to enhance your career, we also offer several additional benefits to our employees, such as bonus and a quality pension scheme.
Working together is vitally important in helping us be a bold, customer-oriented power generation and retail business, driven by biomass innovation.
That’s why we have a common set of values that everyone at Drax shares:
We care about what matters – we help each other achieve the things that are important to each of us
We’re a can-do kind of place – we’re empowered and encouraged to make informed decisions, take action and do the right thing
We see things differently – we share inspiration and insight right across Drax, and search for new ideas and ways of working
We listen carefully – we make sure that people feel genuinely heard, acknowledged and that what they say matters
We do what we say we’ll do – we’re proactive, committed and reliable –and trust others to be the same
Our collaborative culture means our people feel valued and want to come to work for the good of the whole business.
An integral part of this is our annual appraisal and development discussion, which takes place between every employee and his/her line manager. We also have regular performance reviews.
We have a positive industrial relations climate, with employment policies underpinned by our values.
Diversity and equality
We’re committed to creating an inclusive workplace through our diversity and equality policy. The aim of this is to ensure that no employee or job applicant receives less favourable treatment due to any of the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act.
Diversity simply means that we’re all different. It refers to visible and non-visible differences, including sex, age, race, religion or belief, disability and sexual orientation. Our aim is to attract a diverse workforce so we can find the best people and create an inclusive environment where difference is respected and everyone feels valued.
Equality means that all our employees have an equal responsibility to treat each other, potential employees, contractors, customers and clients, in a way that respects their feelings and values their contributions. We have a legal responsibility, which we take seriously, to ensure that no job applicant, employee or individual employed by a contractor, customer or client, is unlawfully discriminated against by us or employees acting on our behalf.
Career developmentThat’s why we have a common set of values that everyone at Drax shares:
We care about what matters – we help each other achieve the things that are important to each of us
We’re a can-do kind of place – we’re empowered and encouraged to make informed decisions, take action and do the right thing
We see things differently – we share inspiration and insight right across Drax, and search for new ideas and ways of working
We listen carefully – we make sure that people feel genuinely heard, acknowledged and that what they say matters
We do what we say we’ll do – we’re proactive, committed and reliable –and trust others to be the same
Our collaborative culture means our people feel valued and want to come to work for the good of the whole business.
An integral part of this is our annual appraisal and development discussion, which takes place between every employee and his/her line manager. We also have regular performance reviews.
We have a positive industrial relations climate, with employment policies underpinned by our values.
Diversity and equality
We’re committed to creating an inclusive workplace through our diversity and equality policy. The aim of this is to ensure that no employee or job applicant receives less favourable treatment due to any of the protected characteristics set out in the Equality Act.
Diversity simply means that we’re all different. It refers to visible and non-visible differences, including sex, age, race, religion or belief, disability and sexual orientation. Our aim is to attract a diverse workforce so we can find the best people and create an inclusive environment where difference is respected and everyone feels valued.
Equality means that all our employees have an equal responsibility to treat each other, potential employees, contractors, customers and clients, in a way that respects their feelings and values their contributions. We have a legal responsibility, which we take seriously, to ensure that no job applicant, employee or individual employed by a contractor, customer or client, is unlawfully discriminated against by us or employees acting on our behalf.
Career development is an integral part of working at Drax. We place a strong emphasis on training and growth, giving everyone the chance to learn new skills and discuss their career plans and potential opportunities.
Delivered at our on-site learning facility, our training ranges from key business skills, to management essentials, to safety and IT courses. Primary consideration is given to safety competence where robust refresher systems and enhancement of competence are priorities.
Managers also support personal growth by ensuring development plans are in place, progress is reviewed and opportunities are provided to learn and develop on the job. In addition, we also support further education and professional qualifications relevant to each role.
Our career management framework provides a structure for developing identified successors to meet future business requirements. It involves motivating and engaging our best people to make the most of their skills and experience, investing in their development and helping them reach their full potential.
Delivered at our on-site learning facility, our training ranges from key business skills, to management essentials, to safety and IT courses. Primary consideration is given to safety competence where robust refresher systems and enhancement of competence are priorities.
Managers also support personal growth by ensuring development plans are in place, progress is reviewed and opportunities are provided to learn and develop on the job. In addition, we also support further education and professional qualifications relevant to each role.
Our career management framework provides a structure for developing identified successors to meet future business requirements. It involves motivating and engaging our best people to make the most of their skills and experience, investing in their development and helping them reach their full potential.
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