Drax’s green credentials cast into doubt by official auditor

BRITAIN’S biggest renewable power station cannot prove it is burning wood from sustainable sources despite receiving billions of pounds in taxpayer handouts, the Government’s audit body has said.

The Drax plant in Selby, North Yorkshire, receives subsidies to help generate 6pc of Britain’s electricity, which it achieves by burning 7m tonnes of wood a year.

Drax has claimed that the wood is sourced sustainably, although the National Audit Office (NAO) has sought to question this: “The Government cannot demonstrate that its current arrangements are adequate to give it confidence that industry is meeting sustainability standards.”

Gareth Davies, head of the watchdog, said: “If biomass is going to play a key role in the transition to net zero, the Government needs to be confident that the industry is meeting high sustainability standards. However, the Government has been unable to demonstrate its current assurances are adequate to provide confidence in this regard.”

The scrutiny follows last week’s triumph for Drax after Claire Coutinho, the Energy Secretary, approved a scheme to bolt two carbon capture plants onto its four generating units, potentially stripping out almost all their CO2 emissions. Drax claims the scheme will allow it to remove more CO2 from the atmosphere than it produces – making it the world’s first carbon-negative thermal power station.

Green campaigners claim it will destroy forests and cost consumers billions of pounds.

Drax’s sustainability claims are also under investigation by energy regulator Ofgem which last May opened an enforcement case to examine how it was reporting the data used to calculate green subsidies.

A Drax spokesman said all its wood is sourced sustainably. The spokesman said: “We fully support the review process and look forward to working with the Government on this. It’s essential that sustainability reporting and criteria are robust and fit for purpose. We are committed to ensuring the biomass we source delivers positive outcomes for the climate, for nature and for the communities in which we operate.”

Doug Parr, of Greenpeace UK, said: “The NAO is unconvinced that the enormous flow of subsidies to Drax are doing the job they’re intended for – cutting carbon emissions.”

A spokesman for the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero said: “Biomass will provide a key role in a more secure, clean energy sector.”