UK marks world’s first with Drax BECCS facility

Drax’s BECCS facility is the first to capture CO2 from the combustion of a 100% biomass feedstock anywhere in the world. (Drax)

The UK has commissioned the world’s first bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) facility at the Drax power plant in North Yorkshire. Brought online in February, the pilot facility is designed to capture a ton of carbon dioxide a day and could be scaled up to capture 50 mtpa of CO2 by 2050.

The UK emitted 373 mt of CO2 in 2017, with the power sector accounting for around 20% of the total. Gas was responsible for around 67% of power sector emissions while coal...