Biomass plant is UK’s top emitter
Drax tops the list as the UK power sector’s single largest CO2 emitter, despite generating only a small share of power.
Highlights
12.1Mt
CO2 emissions in 2022 from the UK’s largest emitter, Drax
20%
UK power sector emissions from biomass
<5%
UK power generated by biomass
About
This report compares CO2 emissions from biomass to other sources of power generation in the UK, and analyses the scale of public subsidy.
Biomass emissions
The UK’s largest single source of CO2 emissions is a wood-burning power station
Despite its limited role in the UK’s power system, burning wood is now the UK electricity sector’s second largest CO2 emitter after fossil gas.
Electricity transition analyst, Ember
The science is clear - burning wood for power is far from guaranteed carbon neutral. It doesn’t make sense to gamble public money on more biomass projects when there’s a risk they could significantly add to the UK’s emissions.
Several pathways to a decarbonised UK economy, including those set out by the Climate Change Committee, rely on negative emissions generated through Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) to meet net zero. Currently, Drax is the only company in the UK developing BECCS in the power sector and is looking to secure long-term financial commitment from the UK government to support this project.
However, the ability of a BECCS project to deliver negative emissions is entirely dependent on whether the biomass used is carbon neutral. Given the significant carbon risks of burning wood for power, Drax’s BECCS project represents a risky method of emissions removals and will also come at a significant economic cost to the public.
Before pursuing BECCS as a carbon removal strategy, the technology needs to demonstrate beyond doubt that it can deliver negative emissions. This could be pursued through a small-scale test plant, ahead of any large and long term commitment of public subsidy.
To achieve a clean power system by 2035 or earlier, the UK now needs to deprioritise technologies which risk high emissions, such as biomass. Instead, solutions that can demonstrably provide low emissions generation, including wind, solar, hydro and nuclear, should be thought of as building blocks to decarbonisation. The UK can confidently prioritise these low risk, high reward sources of generation, alongside vital technologies such as storage solutions and grid connections that will enable a transition to clean power in the targeted timeline.
Supporting Material
Methodology
Emission calculations
Ranking of CO2 emitters calculated through analysis of UK and EU emissions trading schemes.
The UK ETS uses the same biomass emissions factor as the EU ETS directive 2003/87/EC. Annex IV of the Directive 2003/87/EC states: “The emission factor for biomass shall be zero”.
Drax emissions are taken from the Drax Group plc Annual report and accounts 2022. Lynemouth emissions have been calculated by Ember from company generation data as emissions are not published. The combined 2022 emissions of Drax (12.1 Mt CO2) and Lynemouth (1 Mt CO2) power stations were 13.1 Mt CO2. According to UK national statistics total UK emissions from power plants in 2022 excluding biomass were 53.7 Mt CO2e. When the emissions from Drax and Lynemouth are included, they represent 19.6% of total emissions (66.8 Mt CO2).
Acknowledgements
Thanks to Phil MacDonald, Claire Kaelin and Ali Candlin for their review and contributions.
Image creditA.P.S. (UK) / Alamy Stock Photo
