Common biomass sustainability framework: consultation

Ember's submission to the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero argues that the proposed common biomass sustainability framework fails to address the high emissions, import reliance, and costs associated with biomass power. Ember recommends limiting large-scale biomass generation, shifting to domestic sourcing, and scaling up low-carbon alternatives like wind, solar, and batteries to align with UK carbon budgets and energy independence goals.

• Biomass power generation is considered incompatible with UK carbon budgets because burning woody biomass can emit more carbon than coal and has significant carbon payback periods. Despite being "zero-rated" under UNFCCC accounting, Drax has been the UK's single largest emitter since 2016, emitting more carbon in 2024 than the six largest gas power plants combined. Drax is expected to remain the largest emitter until 2030, even with a generation cap starting in 2027.
• Large-scale biomass power in the UK is heavily dependent on imports, which threatens energy independence and exposes the system to price volatility. Drax and Lynemouth rely primarily on feedstock from the US and Canada; in 2024, only 0.6% of the 9 million tonnes of fibre sourced by Drax came from within the UK. This import reliance makes sustainability monitoring more difficult due to varying international regulatory oversight.
• Ember proposes three primary recommendations: limiting the role of large-scale biomass power by introducing measures to cap the annual load factor eligible for subsidy after the Heads of Terms for Drax and Lynemouth conclude in March 2031; requiring a shift toward domestic sourcing for feedstock; and scaling up alternative low-carbon dispatchable power such as batteries, wind, and solar.
• The current volume of biomass used by Drax is nearly equal to the total UK roundwood removals. In 2024, Drax sourced 9 million tonnes of fibre (97% woody biomass), while total UK roundwood removals were 10.7 million tonnes. Consequently, UK removals would need to nearly double to support Drax's 2024 sourcing levels domestically. However, a planned cap on the annual load factor eligible for subsidy at 27% between 2027 and 2031 is expected to reduce Drax's annual generation from 15.4 TWh in 2025 to approximately 5.1-6.3 TWh.

APA

Murdoch, J. (2026). Common biomass sustainability framework: consultation. Ember. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2026/02/Ember-submission-to-the-Common-biomass-sustainability-framework.pdf

Chicago

Murdoch, Josie. Common biomass sustainability framework: consultation. Ember, 2026. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2026/02/Ember-submission-to-the-Common-biomass-sustainability-framework.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Murdoch |first1=Josie |title=Common biomass sustainability framework: consultation |publisher=Ember |date=27 February 2026 |url=https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2026/02/Ember-submission-to-the-Common-biomass-sustainability-framework.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{murdoch2026common, author = {Murdoch, Josie}, title = {{Common biomass sustainability framework: consultation}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2026}, month = feb, url = {https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2026/02/Ember-submission-to-the-Common-biomass-sustainability-framework.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }