Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire has been named the UK's largest carbon emitter for the eleventh consecutive year, according to energy think tank Ember. The plant released a record 14.1 million tonnes of CO2 equivalent in 2025, four times more than the second-largest emitter, Pembroke gas power station. Ember's analysis shows Drax emitted more CO2e than the top six gas plants combined. Drax received nearly 1 billion pounds in subsidies for biomass generation in 2025, about 13 pounds per UK household. Over 99 percent of its wood pellet fuel is imported, mostly from the US and Canada. A new subsidy scheme starting in 2027 is expected to cut emissions to around 5.8 million tonnes, but Drax will likely remain the UK's top emitter until at least 2030. Drax disputes the methodology, citing UN IPCC carbon accounting practices for sustainable biomass.
