Drax power station is once again the UK’s largest single source of carbon emissions, according to new analysis from think tank Ember. Emissions from the biomass-burning power plant rose to 13.3 million tonnes of CO2 in 2024, a 16% increase from the previous year. Drax biomass power plant has been the UK’s top emitter for the last 10 years running.
Drax now emits more than the next four largest polluters combined and more than the six most emitting gas power plants combined. Emissions from the Drax power plant are equivalent to over 10% of the UK’s total transport emissions and nearly 3% of the country’s territorial total.
Despite its emissions increase, Drax received around £2 million per day in subsidies in 2024, an average of £10 per household. The power station burned 7.6 million tonnes of wood, 99% of which was imported. Recent investigations have found instances of old growth forests being cut down for this purpose.
