London, 27 November 2025 – New analysis from think tank Ember finds that a single carbon removal project planned for Drax Power Plant could cost £30 billion in subsidies, more than the entire UK budget set aside for carbon capture, use and storage.
Drax already receives £744 million per year in subsidies for burning biomass on average, which will continue until 2031, although subsidies will reduce from 2027.
If bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is built at Drax, the plant would continue to receive subsidies for burning woody biomass for power generation alongside additional subsidies for carbon removal. These removals are far from guaranteed, given the lengthy timeline and unclear efficacy of sequestering carbon by replanting.
Previous Ember analysis has shown that Drax is the UK’s largest emitter, since burning woody biomass emits more carbon than coal. Drax has also drawn controversy by allegedly sourcing feedstock from primary forest in North America.
“Committing to funding BECCS at Drax would be an extremely risky business,” said Ember analyst Josie Murdoch. “With the clock ticking on cutting emissions, the UK doesn’t have time or money to waste on carbon removals tech that may never deliver.”
Recommendations from independent bodies were that carbon removal projects in the power sector source feedstock domestically. However, Drax currently imports over 99% of its feedstock, which would make a shift to domestic sourcing for BECCS challenging.
