04 Aug 2010 05:08:50

Drax delays biomass decision

The UK's largest coal-fired power plant has said that it is waiting for information on government support before converting any of its facilities to biomass.

Drax said that the investment case for one of the three planned biomass facilities that was due to be taken at the end of this year will now be made in 2011 at the earliest, citing a lack of clarity over the government support available.

Chief executive Dorothy Thompson said: "If you commit to an investment this year you will not know what the band [for government support] will be when you go into operation in 2014."

According to the Guardian, if the conversion of the coal plant to biomass is made it will be largest project of its kind ever undertaken in the world.

The announcement came as the company recorded a 23 percent increase in profits for its half year results, which is due to the cold weather conditions that were experienced earlier in the year.

Drax currently supplies seven percent of the UK's electricity and is twice the size of its nearest competitor.