(Alliance News) - The Environment Agency in the UK on Friday said it has launched a consultation on Drax Power Ltd's proposals to develop bioenergy with carbon capture and storage at one of its power stations.
Drax Power is the subsidiary of Drax Group PLC that operates the Drax Power Station in Selby, North Yorkshire. The EA is an executive non-departmental public body sponsored by the UK government's Department for Environment, Food & Rural Affairs.
The EA consultation began on Friday last week and will end on June 29, including drop-in events in person and online to provide further details about the application the EA's decision process and provide opportunities for the public to question Drax Power's plans.
The EA said Drax Power wants to capture the carbon dioxide emitted during electricity generation to prevent the majority of it from entering the atmosphere. The captured carbon dioxide would then be transported via a pipeline for permanent storage under the North Sea.
Drax Power will need to procure an environmental permit from the EA in order to capture carbon from the combustion process, the EA said, alongside a development consent order. This would follow a process led and examined by the Planning Inspectorate, it continued.
After the consultation has concluded, the EA will review the comments received before determining an outcome.
"The Environment Agency has an important part to play in permitting many of the energy technologies that are likely to emerge over the coming years," said EA Environment Manager Kathryn Richardson. "Our role is to ensure that these new technologies, including carbon capture, are conducted in a way that protects people and the environment.
"We're now seeking views from the local community and interested groups on this application. We encourage them to come and see us at our engagement events so they can find out more and view the plans in detail."
Separately, on Wednesday this week, Drax acknowledged UK energy market regulator Ofgem's announcement of an investigation into a possible breach by Drax Power of annual biomass profiling reporting requirements under the Renewables Obligation scheme.
Ofgem noted that the opening of the investigation does not imply any finding of non-compliance, while Drax said Ofgem has separately confirmed that it has not established any breach that would affect the issuance of renewable obligation certificates or associated financial benefits to Drax.
Drax said in response that it "continues to cooperate fully" throughout Ofgem's investigation and "is confident in the compliance of its biomass with the Renewables Obligation criteria".
Shares in Drax were down 0.8% to 549.20 pence each in London on Friday morning.
By Greg Rosenvinge, Alliance News reporter
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