Drax stays the most important single supply of CO2 emissions within the UK, emitting greater than the subsequent 4 largest emitters mixed, in keeping with a report from vitality suppose tank Ember. The North Yorkshire energy plant’s carbon emissions have risen 16% up to now yr, additional widening its lead over next-biggest emitter, Port Talbot Steelworks. Pembroke gasoline energy plant in south Wales is in third place. Drax biomass energy plant has now been the UK’s high emitter for the final 10 years.
Energy era is the primary exercise of the nation’s high emitters, and biomass far outstrips coal and gasoline energy crops, a proven fact that carbon accounting guidelines have historically allowed to be ignored, and which is simply made obvious when figures are recorded by way of uncooked emissions at a facility degree.
Biomass era continues to be outlined as carbon impartial beneath the UK GHG stock (which accords with UNFCCC and IPCC reporting necessities), and is handled as such in carbon budgets. So it continues to be eligible for subsidies earmarked for renewable vitality. Whereas it’s assumed that biomass results in a carbon saving, when bushes are replanted, there may be a lot uncertainty about this.
Emissions from Drax are bigger than these from the six most polluting gasoline energy crops mixed, as Ember notes. General, energy crops make up 16 of the highest 25 largest emitters, however with the coal phase-out full, biomass and gasoline energy crops will proceed to dominate energy sector emissions till they too are phased down, mentioned the doc.
Massive-scale biomass burning continues to high the UK emissions rankings, and regardless of Drax incomes round £2 million per day in public subsidies, issues stay in regards to the excessive degree of direct emissions. The carbon content material of wooden and excessive volumes burned ensured that Drax energy station remained the UK’s largest emitter. Emissions from Drax are equal to greater than 10% of the UK’s whole emissions from transport. Drax generated 15 TWh in 2024 by burning 7.6 million tonnes of wooden, of which 99% was imported.
Lynemouth biomass energy station is now the twelfth largest emitting facility within the UK, emitting round 1.7 MtCO2e. Although not as giant as Drax, elevated era at Lynemouth, backed by a publicly funded Contract for Distinction subsidy, considerably boosted its emissions in 2024. Regardless of this public subsidy, through the vitality disaster biomass era fell considerably as profitability fell. As earnings from its Contract for Distinction elevated, Lynemouth re-entered the highest 25 largest emitters for the primary time since 2021. Nevertheless, era at Lynemouth remains to be round 1 / 4 decrease than common, which means emissions might rise additional subsequent yr.
Regardless of a discount in era, gasoline energy crops have probably the most entries within the largest emitters listing, with 13 out of the highest 25. In addition to energy era, gasoline energy presently performs an essential grid stability position, however this will more and more get replaced by clear options which have each decrease emissions and import reliance. Clear flexibility applied sciences, resembling batteries and long-duration vitality storage, will due to this fact be essential to lowering gasoline powered era and related emissions.
