Drax and DB Cargo join forces for greener rail freight

DB Cargo and renewable energy producer Drax Group have announced a significant step towards reducing their carbon footprint for biomass transport by switching to 100% renewable Hydrotreated Vegetable Oil (HVO) fuel.

DB Cargo UK hauls around 4.5 million tonnes of biomass pellets to Drax Power Station annually using approximately 3,000 trains and expects to slash carbon emissions by up to 90% and saving over 12,000 tonnes of carbon each year. It currently operates nearly 60 trains a week to the plant in North Yorkshire. HVO, is regarded as one of the purest fuels, produced synthetically from waste vegetable oils or animal fats with no modifications needed for a locomotive to be powered by HVO.

"This decision by Drax to use HVO in its trains is a win-win for both companies," said Roger Neary, Chief Sales Officer at DB Cargo UK. "It brings us closer to the government's target of net zero rail emissions by 2050 and helps Drax achieve its sustainability goals."

Neary emphasised that HVO is currently the most viable solution for decarbonising rail freight until the UK's rail network is fully electrified, adding: “Until a firm commitment is made to electrification of the UK network, HVO is the only credible solution to rail freight decarbonisation. More services could be operated with HVO if the right policies and incentives were in place to enable more customers to make the switch.”

DB Cargo has been working on its alternative fuel projects for a number of years. It converted a Class 66 diesel locomotive in 2021 as well as a Class 67 diesel-electric. It has since then continued testing and converting other locomotives in its fleet including more 66s and a Class 60.

Bruce Heppenstall, Plant Director at Drax Power Station, commented "Drax Power Station uses high volumes of biomass to keep the lights on for millions of homes across the UK. Rail freight is a cleaner and greener option for transporting this material and our partnership with DB Cargo prevents thousands of additional journeys by HGVs across the UK’s road network.”