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Drax 'Gets The Drift' Of Freight On Britain's Waterways

Trials for the waterborne transport of Pulverised Fuel Ash (PFA) from Drax Power Station took place recently

Drax Power Station is a large coal-fired power station in North Yorkshire, England, capable of co-firing biomass and petcoke. It is situated near the River Ouse between Selby and Goole.

The waterborne transport trial consisted of nearly 1,200 tonnes shipment of PFA transported to Ireland, removing around 40 lorry loads from the road network and taking advantage of the most carbon efficient means of transporting freight.

Drax which produces approximately 1.4 million tonnes of PFA per year has traditionally exported this material by road, but has recently started to use alternate modes of transport. In partnership with ash sales agent Hargreaves Coal Combustion Products Ltd and specialist bulk handling company TW Logistics Ltd, it was decided to take to the water and for the first time using Drax Power Station’s jetty on the River Ouse and trial the transport of this combustion by-product. PFA can be used for a number of purposes including the manufacture of concrete products and building blocks, as well as for structural fill.

Utilising waterborne freight, each ship is able to carry about 1,200 tonnes per trip. It is hoped that these trials could set the way for more permanent freight movements of PFA from Drax from the River Ouse jetty.

Britain's inland waterways provide a vital link between coastal and inland ports and major sites of manufacturing, industry and commerce. The network provides an environmentally sound and sustainable means of moving goods and materials from one place to another, reducing traffic congestion on roads and making a positive contribution to local communities.

Transporting freight by water has the potential to cut fuel costs with one single 600 tonne barge able to move the equivalent of twenty-four 25 tonne lorry loads. Waterborne transport normally travels at speeds slower than vehicles on the road; however its ability to carry substantially more in one load delivers considerable economies of scale on commercial navigations.

Stuart McKenzie, freight and harbour supervisor for British Waterways North East said: “Nationally, British Waterways handle around 1,900,000 tonnes of freight per year, of which around 842,000 was carried on north east waterways during the 2008/09 season, including the Aire & Calder Navigation, Sheffield & South Yorkshire Navigations and the River Ouse. One of the waterways principal assets is the potential to provide sustainable transport solutions with environmental benefits.

“We have been working closely with developers, freight operators and other partners to facilitate freight transport and explain the benefits of using the canal for freight use. The canal infrastructure provides the perfect platform for reducing lorry journeys from already congested roads and is an environmentally sound solution to ever increasing transport problems. We see major opportunities to carry freight on our waterways and we will continue to be supportive of companies looking to explore these opportunities.”

Peter Emery, production director of Drax commented: “At Drax we are continually looking for ways to reduce our impact on the environment. Using the waterways to transport our PFA 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. The more PFA we are able to sell, the less goes to landfill taking us closer towards our target of zero ash landfill.”

Isoldt Harris, Business Development Manager for TW Logistics commented: “As a company specializing in the handling and processing of bulk materials, we are pleased to have been working closely with all parties in order to manage and facilitate this historic trial shipment via the Drax jetty. The successful operation clearly demonstrates both the environmental and cost benefits that can be gained by moving cargoes by water and we anticipate this will be an important milestone for the Drax facility."