The Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, Claire Coutinho, has granted development consent for the Drax Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage Project application.

The project proposes to install post-combustion capture technology that would capture carbon dioxide emissions from up to two of the existing biomass units at Drax Power Station.

The proposal includes the construction and operation of carbon capture technology and associated equipment, and the integration of the units into the existing Common Services at Drax Power Station. The proposal includes associated development.

The application was submitted to the Planning Inspectorate for consideration by  Drax Power Limited on 23 May 2022 and accepted for Examination on 20 June 2022.

Following an Examination during which the public,  Statutory Consultees and  Interested  Parties were given the opportunity to give evidence to the Examining Authority, recommendations were made to the Secretary of State on  17 October 2023. 

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This is the  130th Nationally  Significant Infrastructure  Project and 76th energy application to have been examined  by The Planning Inspectorate  within the timescales laid down in the Planning Act 2008. 

The Planning Inspectorate's Chief Executive, Paul Morrison said:  "The Planning Inspectorate has now examined more than 100  nationally significant infrastructure projects since the Planning Act 2008 process was introduced, ensuring  local communities have had the opportunity of being involved in the examination of projects that may affect them. 

"Local communities continue to be given the opportunity of being involved in the examination of projects that may affect them. Local people, the local authority and other Interested Parties were able to participate in this six-month Examination.

"The Examining Authority listened and gave full consideration to all local views and the evidence gathered during the Examination before making its recommendation to the Secretary of State."

The decision, the recommendation made by the Examining Authority to the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero and the evidence considered by the Examining Authority in reaching its recommendation are publicly available on the project pages of the National Infrastructure Planning website.