High Court backs Drax in CfD row
DECC decision to refuse support for bio conversion project quashed

The High Court has ruled that a planned biomass conversion at Drax power station is eligible for a Contract for Difference under DECC’s Final Investment Decision Enabling mechanism.
The coal-to-bio rejig at the 600MW Yorkshire facility’s second unit was turned down in April while one on the third unit won backing. Drax Group, which had previously been told the scheme was eligible, kicked off a legal challenge immediately.
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The court has now quashed the decision to refuse an early stage CfD and DECC, which was granted leave to appeal, must reconsider the project. "The court has made a declaration that the second unit conversion was indeed eligible," Drax said in a statement.
The first unit to get a biomass conversion at the plant went live in April 2013.
Image: the Drax plant is switching from coal to biomass (Drax)