DRAX Power has literally barged its way into a new green age.

The power station near Selby has taken its first delivery of the biomass fuel, Tall Oil by barge.

An oil derived from wood pulp, Tall Oil is an environmentally-friendly substitute for heavy fuel oil and marks yet another development by Drax in establishing the effective use of alternative renewable fuels.

Drax is the first power station in the UK to use Tall Oil - which, it is reckoned, will reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions by more than 300,000 tonnes a year, and well as cutting down on emissions of "acid rain" producing sulphur dioxide (SO2).

Burning Tall Oil and other biomass fuels at Drax Power Station will make a significant contribution to the use of renewables in electricity generation, by helping towards meeting the Government's target of ten per cent of electricity supplies coming from renewables by the year 2010.

The last delivery by barge to Drax was about 20 years ago, and the cargo then was heavy fuel oil.

Over the last three months a team of engineers has been working on restoring the jetty and its associated equipment on the River Ouse to allow river transportation.

Delivery by barge brings further environmental and local benefits as this will remove approximately 4,000 road tankers from the local roads.

Gerald Wingrove, chief executive of Drax Power, said: "Drax is continually looking for ways to improve its business and environmental performance. Over the last 18 months we have successfully developed the capability to burn biomass materials and now these form an integral part of our fuel mix with tremendous environmental benefits."

Updated: 11:30 Friday, October 22, 2004