Drax has announced plans to move more of its ash by ship after a successful trial in January which saw 1,200 tonnes of pulverised fuel ash (PFA) transported to Ireland by ship.

The Environment Agency, British Waterways North East and Hull & Goole Port Authority have backed further ship movements and Drax will now start to make more use of this form of transport, rather than HGV road transport, to take one ship load of PFA to Ireland per month.

Drax is 60 miles inland so, traditionally, the 1.4 million tonnes of PFA it produces annually are transported by road. The 12 ship loads Drax plans to send per year will save some 480 lorry journeys, thereby reducing traffic congestion, cutting air pollution and delivering considerable economies of scale.

PFA is a combustion by-product, which is used in the manufacture of construction materials. The initial deliveries will travel by ship from Drax Power Station, near Selby in North Yorkshire along the River Ouse to Waterford, Ireland. One of the major benefits is that ship movements will make much longer trips viable and Drax now expects to be able to find new customers for its ash.

Peter Emery, production director at Drax said:

“At Drax we are continually looking for ways to reduce our impact on the environment. Using the waterways to transport our ash not only means that we utilise a lower carbon form of transport and reduce our movements by road, but by reducing transportation costs we are able to look further afield and gain access to new markets and customers.

“The more ash we are able to sell, the less goes to landfill taking us closer towards our target of zero ash landfill.”

Stuart McKenzie, freight supervisor and harbourmaster for British Waterways North East, said:

“The trial showed that the inland waterways can play a strong role in reducing the amount of traffic on roads, whilst being an environmentally efficient mode of transporting goods.

“We’re delighted that the trial proved successful and hope it will encourage more organisations to consider water-borne transport.”

John Dodwell, chairman of the Commercial Boat Operators Association, said:

“Drax’s move to using water freight is part of a trend we are witnessing as industry looks to reduce both supply chain costs and carbon emissions. Well done, Drax! We are getting more enquiries and we expect this will continue as oil prices go up.”

For more information, please contact:

Melanie Wedgbury/Rachael Hudson
Drax Power 01757 618381

Lisa McGauley/Richard Harrison
Imagen PR 01943 468778

-ENDS-

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 UK’s electricity needs.

2. The initial trial took place in January using a vessel called the Torrent (pictured loading). The bulk handling specialist was T W Logistics Ltd and the sales agent was Hargreaves Coal Combustion Products Ltd.

3. British Waterways enquiries contact 0113 281 6860

4. Commercial Boat Operators Association contact John Dodwell, chairman, by emailing j.dodwell@cboa.org.uk.