UK environmental groups and campaigners are pressing the government to stop subsidising biomass energy, following allegations that Drax has been sourcing wood from ecologically significant old growth forests in Canada, contradicting their sustainability claims.
Environmental groups and campaigners are urging the UK government to reconsider subsidising biomass energy, following allegations that Drax, the UK’s largest power station operator, has been using wood from old growth forests in Canada. Despite Drax’s claims of using sustainably managed forests, investigations have revealed that the company sourced whole logs from primary and rare forests, including areas designated as Priority Deferral Areas in British Columbia due to their ecological significance.
Critics highlight the contradiction between Drax’s sustainability claims and the environmental impact of sourcing wood from these vital forests. This comes amid ongoing discussions about extending UK government subsidies for Drax and Lynemouth power stations beyond 2027, with potential costs to energy bill payers amounting to £4 billion. Drax maintains that its wood pellets, used to produce 5% of the UK’s electricity, are sourced sustainably and legally, emphasizing the reliance on sawdust and sawmill residues.
The controversy raises concerns about the carbon neutrality of burning wood pellets, particularly when sourced from unsustainable forests. Over 50 campaign groups and 165 scientists have called for an end to the burning of forest biomass in UK power stations, urging a shift towards more sustainable energy solutions like wind and solar power. The debate touches on the broader issues of renewable energy production, forest conservation, and the environmental impacts of biomass as a renewable energy source.
