Burning imported wood in Drax power plant ‘doesn’t make sense’, says Kwarteng

Drax has taken 5.6bn in subsidies from energy bill payers but business secretary says practice is not sustainable'

The importing of wood to burn in Drax power station is not sustainable" and doesn't make any sense", the business and energy secretary, Kwasi Kwarteng, told a private meeting of MPs this week.

The remarks are significant as the burning of biomass to produce energy is an important part of the UK government's net zero strategy and has received 5.6bn in subsidies from energy bill payers over the last decade. Scientists and campaigners have long argued that burning wood to produce electricity is far from green and can even increase the CO₂ emissions driving the climate crisis.