Ember’s submission to the Environmental Audit Committee RE: Call for Evidence - Technological Innovations and Climate Change: Negative Emissions Technologies

Ember expresses concern that the mainstream model of BECCS—adding carbon capture to biomass power plants—may not generate negative emissions because burning wood for power is increasingly viewed as a net emitter of CO2. The submission highlights the high risk associated with the Drax power station project, noting it could cost UK energy bill payers over £30bn while potentially failing to deliver negative emissions. Ember recommends that the UK’s Biomass Strategy 2022 prioritize scientific research and independent monitoring of supply chains over the premature promotion of BECCS projects.

• There is a significant risk that the mainstream application of BECCS, specifically adding carbon capture and storage (CCS) to biomass-fired power plants, will not achieve negative emissions because burning wood for power is increasingly seen as a net emitter of CO2 and potentially more polluting than coal.
• The BECCS project proposed by the Drax power station is considered high-risk and could cost UK energy bill payers more than £30bn over its lifetime, potentially representing an opportunity loss for more effective decarbonisation or nature-based emission removal strategies.
• For BECCS to theoretically generate genuine negative emissions, it requires the use of appropriate biomass feedstocks, optimized land use for carbon sequestration, and the implementation of rigid, independent monitoring, reporting, and verification of supply chains.
• Ember advises that the UK’s Biomass Strategy 2022 should avoid prematurely promoting BECCS and instead focus on building scientific consensus and analyzing the costs and implications of achieving net zero without the technology.

APA

Ember (2021). Ember’s submission to the Environmental Audit Committee RE: Call for Evidence - Technological Innovations and Climate Change: Negative Emissions Technologies. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2024/12/Environmental-Audit-Committee-Call-for-Evidence-.pdf

Chicago

Ember. Ember’s submission to the Environmental Audit Committee RE: Call for Evidence - Technological Innovations and Climate Change: Negative Emissions Technologies. 2021. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2024/12/Environmental-Audit-Committee-Call-for-Evidence-.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite press release |author=Ember |title=Ember’s submission to the Environmental Audit Committee RE: Call for Evidence - Technological Innovations and Climate Change: Negative Emissions Technologies |date=28 October 2021 |url=https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2024/12/Environmental-Audit-Committee-Call-for-Evidence-.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@misc{ember2021embers, author = {{Ember}}, title = {{Ember’s submission to the Environmental Audit Committee RE: Call for Evidence - Technological Innovations and Climate Change: Negative Emissions Technologies}}, publisher = {Ember}, year = {2021}, month = oct, url = {https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2024/12/Environmental-Audit-Committee-Call-for-Evidence-.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }