Following the completion of Phase One of the wet wood processing trial, managed by Renewable Fuels Ltd (”Renewable Fuels”) the trial will now progress to Phase Two ahead of plan. Phase One has been successful in identifying the issues associated with the processing of wet wood, including the transport and handling of processed fuel.

Over the last six months, wood-derived biomass fuel, including Short Rotation Coppice (”SRC”) willow, has been bought, processed and supplied to Drax Power Limited (”Drax Power”) by Renewable Fuels as part of Drax Power’s comprehensive alternative fuels programme. The SRC used in the trial originates from 1,100 hectares of willow grown locally by the Producer Group, Renewable Energy Growers.

As part of its alternative fuels programme, Drax Power commissioned a ‘direct injection’ system on one of its six generating units at the beginning of August. The second phase of the processing trial involves linking up the processing equipment with the ‘direct injection’ system to provide an on-line supply of wood-derived biomass. It is anticipated that an on-line supply will deliver both efficiency and economic benefits.

To date, the biomass trials at Drax Power Station have successfully demonstrated the potential to handle and co-fire significant quantities of biomass fuels, including SRC willow and round-wood. On the back of this success, Drax Power has already made much progress in promoting local supply partnerships for future forestry and energy crops. This is a major step forward both for the power industry and the forestry, farming and agricultural communities. These materials have the capability to provide a valuable contribution to the use of renewable energy sources in electricity generation and help towards the Government’s target for 2010 of 10% of electricity supplies coming from renewable sources.

Renewable Fuels, as part of the world’s leading SRC specialists, offer growers complete services for the establishment of SRC willow as well as processing and supply logistics for the power providers. The company has successfully established SRC in Yorkshire this year with a further planting programme for local growers in 2006.

Peter Emery, Production Director at Drax Power commented:

“We are very pleased with the results of our alternative fuels programme to date, and we have worked hard to develop an energy crop market with local producers and suppliers. We have successfully demonstrated a technology route to reduce emissions of carbon dioxide, and as the largest, cleanest and most efficient coal-fired power station in the country we clearly have a significant contribution to make in the reduction of emissions from burning fossil fuel.”

Stephen Martin, of Renewable Fuels commented:

“This is another exciting stage of the trial which demonstrates Renewable Fuels’ and Drax’s continued commitment to the ongoing development of the energy crop market in the UK. More and more growers in Yorkshire are now recognising the benefits of growing SRC and are able to identify the real market for the crop, which is what the industry needs”.

For more information, please contact:

Melanie Wedgbury
Drax Power Limited
01757 618381

Pernilla Tweddle
Renewable Fuels Limited
01904 720575

Notes to Editors

1. Drax Power Limited is the owner of Drax Power Station, the largest, cleanest and most efficient coal fired power station in the UK. The output capacity from the station’s six generators is 4,000MW. At current output levels it supplies some 7% of the country’s electricity needs.

2. Renewable Fuels Ltd processes and trades in a variety of biomass-derived fuels. The Company has established a commercial base at Escrick, near York. Renewable Fuels Ltd is one of the first companies to provide complete biomass services for the establishment of SRC willow in the UK including land assessment, planting, harvesting and supply logistics using experiences gained over many years in Scandinavia from the parent company, Svenska Lantmännen, a co-operative made up of over 52,000 Swedish farmers. Part of this co-operative is Agrobränsle AB, world’s leading specialist in Short Rotation Coppice willow with over 15,000 ha of established crops. For further information visit: www.renewablefuels.co.uk

3. ‘Direct Injection’ allows biomass materials to be injected either directly into the boiler or into the fuel line, which delivers a mixture of pulverised coal and hot air into the boiler. This is an important development as it by-passes the pulverising fuel mills, potentially allowing greater throughput of biomass with consequent improvements in savings of carbon dioxide emissions from burning fossil fuels.