Drax Power Limited has been granted an environmental permit variation by the Environment Agency for its bioenergy plant near Selby, Yorkshire. The variation allows the company to incorporate carbon capture technology.
The Environment Agency's decision follows a public consultation held earlier in the summer on its draft decision. The agency stated that the decision is based on Drax demonstrating it has met and will continue to meet mandatory conditions outlined in the permit.
Ian Foster, Area Environment Manager at the Environment Agency, said they reviewed consultation comments and evidence and are satisfied that robust levels of environmental protection are met. He added that environmental law sets out these conditions, and the agency is legally obliged to issue a permit if all requirements are met.
Drax Power Ltd intends to capture carbon dioxide emitted during electricity generation to prevent the majority of it from entering the atmosphere. The captured carbon dioxide will then be transported for permanent storage under the North Sea.