By Professor John Robertson OBA
In the Times today:
British households paid around £10 each, on average, on their energy bills last year to support a controversial wood-burning power station. Drax, whose biomass facility in North Yorkshire is the UK’s largest power station, received £869 million from public subsidies in 2024, according to an analysis by campaigners.
DRAX!!!
From BBC North Yorkshire, 9 February 2025:
A UK power station that has received billions of pounds in government subsidies has failed more than once to report it burned wood from primary forests, BBC News has found. Drax Power Station, which burns wood pellets, is required to report where it sources its wood and whether it is from natural, previously untouched forests.
BBC Panorama and BBC News has previously reported that Drax held logging licences in British Columbia, Canada, and used wood, including whole trees, from primary and old-growth forests for its pellets. These are natural forests that have never been industrially logged and lock up and store significant amounts of carbon as well providing key wildlife habitats.
What’s the connection with Scottish Labour?
Scottish Labour deputy leader wins award for serial killer analogy and endorses UK’s biggest CO2 emitter and one of most dangerous polluters in Europe
Dame Jackie Baillie wins an award sponsored by Drax in November 2023. Anas Sarwar won it in 2024.
Drax! Even the name triggers fear. Drax the Destroyer?
I don’t know why energy giant Drax is sponsoring the Herald’s Scottish Politician of the Year award but it’s a bad, bad image. See this:
A U.K. biomass power plant which received more than £800 million (C$1.36 billion) in government subsidies for renewable energy production last year has been pegged as the country’s largest source of CO2 in the country in a new analysis by the climate think tank, Ember.
The Drax plant, which generates electricity by burning wood pellets, is also one of the biggest sources of dangerous particulate (PM10) pollution in the entire EU, writes Skye News.https://www.theenergymix.com/2021/10/24/report-tags-heavily-subsidized-drax-biomass-plant-as-u-ks-biggest-co2-emitter/
Maybe Drax is good to its workers? Nope. See this:
This fight at Drax is about the fact there’s been a 14 percent pay cut in two years in comparison with the cost of living. Where I work, we got offered a pay rise and it was an insult. The conditions are horrendous. You’re talking 60 degrees when you’re working in the boiler room. With the hot weather recently, it was so hot people were almost collapsing and we have to stay there and work through it. We get treated like dogs.https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2022/08/23/drax-a23.html
So, why are Labour so relaxed with Drax? This in September 2022:
Climate campaigner ejected from Labour event sponsored by Drax power plant firm
What does really sustainable biofuel look like?
LandEnergy in Girvan, Ayrshire, make the following claims:
The cornerstone of Land Energy’s supply chain is our wood pellet production plant situated on the South West coast of Scotland in the South Ayrshire town of Girvan. The plant was developed and built by Land Energy and is and located within the Galloway and Southern Ayrshire UNESCO Biosphere, the largest forested area in the UK – that’s why we are here.
All of our timber comes from sustainable, and responsibly-managed forest sources which adhere to UK standards and comes from the local area around the plant.
The average distance our feedstock to reach the plant is 56km, a fraction of the distance travelled by conventional coal or oil energy resources. We are on the Biomass Supplier List and comfortably surpass their requirements, ensuring that you will meet all your RHI obligations.
More at: https://www.land-energy.com/uk-production/
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How apt ! Drax The Destroyer sponsors Baillie The B*stard !
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I have spoken to
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It seems apt that Drax sponsored fake political awards that , as fake political awards, then presented Jackie Baillie, with a fake political pretend award that means absolutely nowt in the grand scale of awards, political or otherwise.
I remember the negative publicity associated with Drax, where in the BBC Panorama programme they stated Drax had “received billions of pounds in green energy subsidies from UK taxpayers is cutting down environmentally important forests”.
On the 10 February 2025 Michael Shanks , Labour MP and Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State (Minister for Energy) made a statement.
Here is a snippet of some of ‘we will probably stick with Drax’ (non) points that he made:
“In January 2024, the previous government launched a consultation on supporting large scale biomass generators when existing support ends in 2027. Since this government came to office, we have carefully considered responses to the consultation and assessed the case for a new support mechanism”
“Biomass currently plays an important role in our energy system, but we are conscious of concerns about sustainability and the level of subsidy biomass plants have received in the past”.
“The department will very shortly publish our response to the consultation. Alongside it, I want to report on our conclusions about the role of Drax Power Station in Yorkshire in the years 2027 to 2031“.
“NESO have advised us that Drax plays an important role in delivering security of supply between 2027 and 2031″
“Biomass generation at Drax is the lowest cost option, including when compared to gas-fired power stations, for billpayers during this period”
“Following this assessment, and given the circumstances we have inherited, the clear evidence is that Drax is important to delivering a secure, value for money power system in the period 2027 to 2031″
“We have concluded that if Drax is to continue to play a role in our power system these arrangements must urgently be improved going forward”
(arrangements he notes as “security of supply”, “on price”, “previous arrangements for subsidy and sustainability” and “issues with decarbonisation”)
“We have secured Heads of Terms that will form the basis of a very different agreement with Drax for support during the period 2027 to 2031”
“Drax will be supported to operate at a maximum load factor of just 27% – operating less than half as often as it currently does”
“When renewable power is abundant, Drax won’t generate, and consumers will benefit from cheaper wind and solar instead”
“This new deal halves the subsidies for Drax – equivalent to a saving of nearly £6 per household per year”
Chris Law MP for the SNP stated to Shanks:
“Biomass burning has always been a sticking plaster, and it has allowed successive Governments to claim green progress while continuing to emit immense amounts of CO2. The public were promised £20 billion a year of green investment, but instead we are getting less than 6% of what is needed. When will the UK Government commit to significant direct investment in long-term energy storage such as pumped hydro storage and green hydrogen production, so that the UK can move past burning forests for its energy”?
Carla Deyner from The Green party stated:
“Drax is a clean energy scam that has been handed £6 billion by successive Conservative Ministers since 2012, when that money should have been spent on getting energy bills down. The Minister rightly cites past excess profits and I believe he said specifically that the new contract will allow Government to claw them back. Will the contract allow clawback of previous excess profits and remedy the past misspending of public money? Or will the clawback apply only as we go forward into the future, in which case that is still throwing good money after bad, just slightly less of it”?
So Labour will continue with Drax though in a reduced role but still a role in the future of their Labour UK.
Vote SNP in 2026 to eventually live in a independent country that has a REAL Green environment.
Liz S
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Tommy Sheppard’s remarkable PMQ in the House of Commons on 10th May 2023.
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YouTube link to a Scottish Sun video of Tommy Sheppard’s PMQ. Sharing from the HoC video isn’t available they say.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nS19guh8Dtw
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The Sun’s tilt on what the SNP have to say in Youtube presentations has really ramped up over the last year, with the contracted muppets of the day heckling in comments – Yet you start to recognise the same user names across all sites, and realise they are an exceedingly small number – It’s per HMS James Cook these days – It takes 10 seconds to lose credibility, and once it’s gone there’s no going back…
As you’ve already observed, they’re trying to manipulate the share function of Youtube, for which you only need do a “Nick Robinson” edit and job done… I’ve noted this ‘append’ function being increasingly applied…
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Something sticks in my mind about the Drax concept being the biggest nuclear plant in Britain before they switched to the biggest coal fired at ca 4GW…. Wikipedia had a good article on it, but it’s been heavily edited since, although ” were synchronised to the grid ” gives a fair clue to the technology available in the 1960/70s…
Ignoring for a moment the ‘biomass’ scandal, Drax has one redeeming quality, it is ideally situated for the NG – Hence the gazumped Norway-Peterhead interconnect redirected there, and guess where the east cost HVDC cables go an will be going, cough….
So back to the Times article and the ” received £869 million from public subsidies in 2024 “, that’s the tip of a very large ‘black hole’, proudly made in England by incompetent and corrupt politicians for the last 45 years.
Of course Damn Baillie and Anas wi’teeth would get an award sponsored by Drax, it’s chicken feed compared to the cost of honesty…
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According to climate think tank EMBER
“Biomass emissions make Drax the largest polluting company in the UK and produces just 8% of renewable electricity in the UK and less than 4% of the UK’s total electricity”
Drax is the largest single source of CO2 in the UK
Emitting 11.5 million tonnes (Mt) of CO2 in 2023, Drax is by far the largest single CO2 emitter in the UK, responsible for the equivalent of 2.9% of total UK territorial emissions. Burning wood for electricity, Drax power station emitted more CO2 than the next four power stations combined, and over four times the emissions of the UK’s remaining coal power plant, Ratcliffe on Soar (2.7 MT CO2e). Although it is the recipient of public funding earmarked for low-carbon projects, Drax remains the largest single source of CO2 in the country.
Drax power station generated less power (11.5 TWh) in 2023 than in previous years, a fall from 12.7 TWh in 2022. Over the same period, Drax claimed over £1.0 billion in profits, after the Electricity Generator Levy (commonly known as the windfall tax) was applied. In 2023 Drax generated 11.5 TWh of electricity, a fall from 12.7 TWh in 2022, and a further fall from 14.1 TWh in 2021. This now means Drax produces just 8% of renewable electricity in the UK and less than 4% of the UK’s total electricity.
In 2021 Drax earned £893m (2020: £832 million) in direct government subsidies for burning forest biomass – more than £2 million a day. These subsidies added £11.60 to the average household energy bill. The company has announced an operating profit of £197 million, alongside a rising dividend to shareholders.
Direct subsidies to biomass
Drax receives subsidies in the form of ROCs (Renewables Obligation Certificates) and CfDs (Contract for Difference) dependent on the amount of woody biomass it burns. Ember calculates that from 2012 until 2027, when this support runs out, Drax will have collected more than £11 billion in subsidies. This figure is all the more extraordinary considering wind and solar generation, which guarantee real emissions reductions, are now effectively subsidy free.
The largest emitters in the UK: annual review | Ember
In 2021 ……A facility in the US supplying wood pellets to the UK for green electricity has been fined $2.5m for breaching air pollution rules.
The plant in Gloster, Mississippi, is owned by North Yorkshire-based power generator Drax.
It converts trees from the southern states into wood pellets, which are then shipped to the UK for use at the firm’s power station near Selby.
The fine was imposed by the Mississippi Department for Environmental Quality.
It relates to breaches regarding levels of volatile organic compounds (VOC’s) at the plant.
UK-owned pellet plant in US fined $2.5m over air quality breaches – BBC News
From Drax Code of Conduct
“We care about what matters and we’re committed to conducting our business with honesty and integrity, and in accordance with all relevant laws and regulations”.
Will Gardiner CEO
If you are a Drax employee?
“What happens when you don’t follow the Code?
There are consequences for you, and for Drax, if you don’t follow our Code of Conduct.
You might face disciplinary action for serious breaches. This could lead to dismissal and/or legal action (including prison sentences) for both permanent and non-permanent workers.
If Drax is found to be in breach of any individual codes, it could damage our reputation and adversely affect our working relationships and profits. In some instances, breaches could lead to Drax having to pay large fines, be under investigation and, potentially, be banned from providing certain services to our customers.”
https://www.drax.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/DR2010_Code-of-Conduct-2024_BF_V003.pdf
Proof that Drax will sack you or put you on ‘special leave’ if you put their profits in jeopardy, from Novara Media.
UK’s Biggest ‘Renewable’ Power Station Sacked Employee Who Blew Whistle on Environmental Claims
UK’s Biggest ‘Renewable’ Power Station Sacked Employee Who Blew Whistle on Environmental Claims | Novara Media
A spokesperson for Drax said: “We take our environmental responsibilities seriously and we are committed to complying with all local and federal regulations.
“The safety of our people and the communities in which we operate is our priority”.
So UK, USA or the World, they obviously DON’t care about our environment or people and their only “priority” is profit.
Just like lobbyist loving British Labour and British Tory before them.
NO CHANGE INDEED!!!
JB
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For further context re- Drax:
From February 25, 2025 from the financial website ’thisismoney’: ‘Drax profits hit £3m a day as firm continues receive to subsidies for its wood-burning power station’.
‘The boss of Drax has insisted its controversial wood-burning power station is vital ‘when the sun isn’t shining and the wind isn’t blowing’ as it cashed in on another £800million of subsidies.’
And from Ember, the energy think tank (April 22, 2024): ‘Drax profits rise as electricity generation falls, show new figures’.
It notes: ‘In 2023 Drax earned £539m (2022: £586m) in direct government subsidies for burning forest biomass. This brings the total public subsidy the company has received for biomass to around £7 billion, even as concerns grow over the climate impacts of wood burning.’
And: ‘The company is currently looking for an extension to its subsidies, which are due to end in 2027. Ember estimates that it could cost the public £4bn extra if these subsidies are extended – and possibly much more, depending on the end date.
‘The company is also looking for brand new subsidies for its new BECCS plant: bioenergy with carbon capture and storage. This power station aims to burn wood and capture the resulting CO2 under the north sea. Ember estimates that the project would cost the UK public £1.7billion each year.’
From the Drax Group plc Annual Report and Accounts 2024 (https://www.drax.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Drax_AR2024_Interactive.pdf )
Base annual salary for Drax top executives in 2024: CEO = £690,000 and CFO = £439,000
The Annual Report (page 133) has a table which ‘sets out the single figure of remuneration and the breakdown for each of these Executive Directors for the financial year to 31 December 2024, together with comparative earnings for the financial year to 31 December 2023.’
Total remuneration:
CEO = £2,864,000 (for 2024); £3,002,000 (for 2023)
CFO = £1,648,000 (for 2024); £1,745,000 (for 2023).
Recall the latest level of public subsidy – £800,000 – for comparison.
Does Scotland need Drax? Would Scotland’s share of the cost of the UK public subsidy to Drax be better spent in Scotland?
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Error: should read: ‘Recall the latest level of public subsidy – £800,000,000 – for comparison’. Apologies!
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The Westminster Gov is spending £13Billion a year decommissioning nuclear, Ever increasing, Hinkley Poiht years late and over budget. Nowhere to put the waste. Flying it around the world.
Trident dumped in Scotland. Waste, A waste. Over time and money. Scotland pays too much for the military, 180,000 military personnel. 10,000 based in Scotland, Should be 18,000.
Labour cancelled two tidal power projects. Cost £20Billion, £10Billion each. They want to build more nuclear. A total waste.
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