Drax to cut HGV journeys and move more ash by boat

The Environment Agency, British Waterways North East and Hull & Goole Port Authority have backed further boat movements after the successful trial recently and Drax will now start to use boat transport, rather than HGV, regularly. The next shipment to Ireland is now scheduled for 15 March.

The initial deliveries will travel by boat from Drax Power Station, near Selby in North Yorkshire along the River Ouse to Waterford, Ireland. One of the major benefits is that boat movements will make much longer trips viable and Drax now expects to be able to find new customers for its ash.

Drax is 60 miles inland so, traditionally, the 1.4 mtpa of PFA it produces is transported by road. Every 1200t haul means 40 HGVs will not be required thereby reducing traffic congestion, cutting air pollution, and delivering considerable economies of scale.

Peter Emery, production director at Drax said: “At Drax we are continually looking for ways to reduce our impact on the environment and these initial pilot shipments should be the first of many. 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.”