A single carbon removal project planned for Drax Power Plant could cost taxpayers more than the entire national budget for carbon capture.
The analysis from energy think tank Ember, estimates that bioenergy with carbon capture and storage at Drax could require £30 billion in subsidies.
Drax already receives an average of £744 million per year in public support for burning biomass. These payments run until 2031, although they begin to reduce from 2027.
If BECCS goes ahead, Drax would continue receiving subsidies for burning woody biomass alongside additional subsidies for carbon removals.
Ember highlights that these removals are far from guaranteed because carbon reabsorption through replanting remains uncertain and timelines stretch over decades.
The think tank also notes previous findings that Drax is the UK’s largest emitter because burning woody biomass releases more carbon than coal.
The plant has faced controversy over alleged sourcing of wood from primary forest in North America.
The shift toward domestic sourcing recommended by independent bodies would be difficult because over 99% of Drax’s feedstock is currently imported.
“Committing to funding BECCS at Drax would be an extremely risky business,” said Ember analyst Josie Murdoch.
“With the clock ticking on cutting emissions, the UK doesn’t have time or money to waste on carbon removals tech that may never deliver.”
Ember’s review of UK carbon removal projects in development shows no technology has yet demonstrated effective carbon removal at commercial scale or at an affordable cost.
This raises concerns because the government’s Carbon Budget relies on carbon removal in the power sector from the 2030s to offset hard-to-decarbonise emissions.
The report argues that proven, low cost solutions can deliver emissions cuts this decade. These include scaling up wind and solar, accelerating heat pump installation, rolling out EVs and investing in grid infrastructure.
The analysis notes that directing the estimated BECCS subsidies toward the Boiler Upgrade Scheme could help a sixth of households in England and Wales install an air source heat pump.
“We know we need to cut emissions rapidly in the next decade, and fortunately we have effective and low cost tools to do that,” added Murdoch.
Drax carbon removal project could exceed entire carbon capture budget appeared first on Energy Live News.