Drax Power Station: A Decade of Record Emissions
New analysis from independent energy think tank Ember reveals that Drax biomass power station was the UK’s largest emitter for the eleventh consecutive year in 2025, with record emissions of 14.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e). This marks a new high for the facility, which has consistently topped the UK’s emission charts.
Emissions Data at a Glance
- Drax emitted 14.1 million tonnes CO2e in 2025, a record high.
- It emitted four times as much CO2e as the second largest emitter, Pembroke gas power station.
- Drax’s emissions exceeded those of the top six gas power stations combined.
Record Subsidies and Import Dependence
Despite its massive carbon footprint, Drax received record public subsidies of £999 million in 2025. Previous Ember analysis showed that subsidies for burning biomass cost UK households an estimated £13 each. Over 99% of the fuel burned by Drax in 2025 was imported, with 86.7% sourced from the United States and Canada, and 13.2% from Europe, primarily Latvia. Less than 1% of feedstock came from the UK, despite long-standing recommendations from independent bodies to develop domestic biomass supplies.
“Drax’s eleventh year running as the UK’s biggest emitter is coming at a high cost. Burning biomass for power generation will never stop being bad value for billpayers or our environment, and must be phased out entirely.” —Josie Murdoch, Energy Analyst – UK, Ember
Future Outlook: Phase-Down but Continued Dominance
In April 2026, Drax power station entered the final twelve months of its current high-subsidy payment period. A new public subsidy with a cap on generation takes effect from April 2027, which will see a reduction in Drax’s annual emissions and begin a phase-down of biomass burning. However, even with this measure, Drax will continue to emit more CO2e than the second largest emitter, all but guaranteeing it remains the UK’s largest emitter until at least 2030.
About Ember
Ember is an independent energy think tank that aims to accelerate the clean energy transition with data and policy. It creates targeted data insights to advance policies that urgently shift the world to a clean, electrified energy future.