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29 July 2013 Drax: rolls out state of the art biomass rail freight wagon Drax has unveiled the UK’s first purpose-built biomass rail freight wagon at the National Railway Museum in York. Developed by designers at Lloyd’s Register Rail and manufactured by WH Davis, it is the largest ever produced and “pushes the boundaries of rail engineering”, according to Drax. The wagon will transport sustainable biomass from the Ports of Tyne, Hull and Immingham to Drax Power Station, near Selby for use in generating low carbon, cost effective, and reliable renewable electricity. The supersize wagon has a capacity of 116 cubic metres allowing a biomass load weighing 71.6 tonnes. Its volume is almost 30 per cent bigger than any freight wagon currently used in the UK. Peter Emery, Drax’s production director said: “Our transformation to become one of Europe’s largest renewable generators through the use of sustainable biomass means we need new, bigger and better rail wagons. “We need to keep the biomass dry, move more of it and speed up the process of delivery. The finished product is an industry-leading design and fulfils all the criteria we set. We may be launching it in a museum but this wagon is no museum piece and will not be surpassed for many years to come.” Work on two prototypes began in January 2013 and presented the design engineers with a number of challenges in achieving the increased wagon capacity within the limits of the Network Rail loading gauge. Drax has ordered 200 wagons that are part of an investment of up to £700 million by including boiler modifications and new biomass receipt, storage and handling facilities at Drax Power Station, as well as developments further upstream in the biomass supply chain. The power station’s first biomass converted generating unit began operating in April; a second will follow next year and a third by 2016 depending on securing contracts for sufficient biomass supplies. Each will burn approximately 2.3 million tonnes of sustainable biomass a year. The new wagon will be on display at the National Railway Museum, York from 26 July to 12 August. Source:  Utility Week Continue reading →