REG - Drax Group Plc - Commissioning of First OCGT Plant

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RNS Number : 1217G  Drax Group PLC  29 May 2026

29 May 2026

Drax Group plc

("Drax" or the "Company"; Symbol: DRX)

 

Commissioning of First OCGT Plant

 

Drax is pleased to announce that commissioning of Hirwaun Power Station is
now complete and Drax has assumed commercial control from the developer Metlen
Energy & Metals. Hirwaun, which is located in South Wales, is the first of
three 299MW Open Cycle Gas Turbine (OCGT) plants which Drax is developing in
England and Wales.

 

Drax Group CEO, Will Gardiner, said: "The successful commissioning of our
first OCGT plant is a landmark moment for Drax.

 

"The energy transition is creating opportunities for us to invest and grow our
business in line with the country's energy needs. Alongside our OCGT
developments, we have made initial investments in Battery Energy Storage
Systems (BESS), which we see as an attractive market. We are continuing to
explore options to invest in flexible and renewable energy, supporting energy
security, creating value for stakeholders and attractive returns for
shareholders in line with our capital allocation policy."

 

The three OCGTs combined will provide capacity of c.900MW when fully
commissioned and be remunerated via a combination of peak power generation,
system support services, and long-term index-linked Capacity Market
agreements. These Capacity Market agreements extend to 2039 and are worth
over £260 million in revenue.

 

The sites benefit from a low fixed cost base with operation and dispatch
managed centrally by Drax and day-to-day management of the sites by Siemens
Energy.

 

Power generation and system support capabilities

The flexibility of OCGTs allows them to switch on and off quickly to meet
periods of high demand, which supports the increased use of intermittent
renewables across the UK system, supporting energy security, with a reduced
dependence on fossil fuels and a reduction in net carbon emissions.

 

In addition, the OCGTs have been built with a clutch mechanism between the
turbine and generator, allowing for them to operate as a Synchronous
Compensator, which can provide additional non-generation services, such as
inertia and voltage control, without engaging the gas turbine.

 

With the evolution of the UK market, continued roll out of renewables and an
increased focus on energy security, Drax believe that demand for and value of
these types of services will increase.

 

Enquiries:

Drax Investor Relations:

Mark Strafford

mark.strafford@drax.com

+44 (0) 7730 763 949

 

Media:

Drax External Communications:

Aidan Kerr

Aidan.kerr@drax.com

+44 (0) 7849 090 368

 

Website: www.drax.com (http://www.drax.com/)

 

END

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