The Drax power station in North Yorkshire has come under scrutiny following a report from the climate thinktank Ember, which revealed that the biomass-fuelled plant was the UK’s single largest carbon emitter in 2023. Despite receiving over £0.5bn in clean-energy subsidies last year, Drax was responsible for a staggering 11.5m tonnes of CO2, accounting for nearly 3% of the UK’s total carbon emissions.
Shockingly, Drax produced four times more carbon dioxide than the UK’s last remaining coal-fired power station at Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire, which is set to close in September. The power station also outpaced the combined emissions of the next four most polluting power plants in the UK. Since 2012, Drax has claimed almost £7bn from British energy bills to support its transition from coal to biomass generation.
However, burning wood pellets for power generation releases more emissions per unit of electricity generated than burning gas or coal, as noted by Ember and numerous scientists. In 2023 alone, Drax received £539m in subsidies. The company has garnered government support by claiming its generation is “carbon neutral,” asserting that the trees felled to produce its wood pellets absorb as much carbon dioxide while growing as they emit when burned.
Drax plans to install carbon-capture technology using additional subsidies to create a “bioenergy with carbon capture and storage” (BECCS) project, aiming to become the world’s first “carbon-negative” power plant by 2030.
A Drax spokesperson dismissed the thinktank’s findings as “flawed,” accusing the authors of ignoring its “widely accepted and internationally recognised approach to carbon accounting.” The spokesperson maintained that BECCS technology is proven and the only credible large-scale method of generating secure renewable power and delivering carbon removals.
The government has handed a total of £22bn in billpayer-backed subsidies to the wood-burning industry for electricity generation, despite the National Audit Office’s warning that ministers are unable to prove the industry meets sustainability standards.
As the UK strives for true energy security and a net-zero future, the role of biomass in the energy mix remains a contentious issue.
Post Disclaimer
The following content has been published by Stockmark.IT. All information utilised in the creation of this communication has been gathered from publicly available sources that we consider reliable. Nevertheless, we cannot guarantee the accuracy or completeness of this communication.
This communication is intended solely for informational purposes and should not be construed as an offer, recommendation, solicitation, inducement, or invitation by or on behalf of the Company or any affiliates to engage in any investment activities. The opinions and views expressed by the authors are their own and do not necessarily reflect those of the Company, its affiliates, or any other third party.
The services and products mentioned in this communication may not be suitable for all recipients, by continuing to read this website and its content you agree to the terms of this disclaimer.