The think tank Ember says the power station was responsible for emitting four-times more such emissions than the UK’s last surviving coal-fired power station in 2023.
However, Drax says the research is ‘flawed’, also noting the wood chips it uses, comes from trees which soak up carbon dioxide as they grow.
Drax has received £22bn in subsidies overall, including more than £500-million in clean energy subsidies in 2023.
The Selby-based plant, which burns wood pellets imported from North America to generate electricity, began switching from coal to biomass in 2012.
Ember says Drax was responsible for 11.5m tonnes of CO2 last year, or nearly 3% of the UK’s total carbon emissions.
Drax produced four times more carbon dioxide than the UK’s last surviving coal-fired power station at Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire, which is set to close in September.
RECOMMENDED READING:
- Drax climate protesters gather at power station entrance
- Drax Group reports boost in profits in half-years results
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