Key facts
- Drax's planned datacentre could emit 8.6 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
- This is nearly double the 4.79 million tonnes of CO2 emitted by Gatwick flights in 2024.
- The datacentre would burn an estimated 4.9 million tonnes of wood each year.
- AI datacentres require significant electricity for servers and cooling.
- There are 315 datacentres seeking grid connection in the UK, representing 73GW of demand.
- Drax plans a 1.2GW datacentre, with 100MW from the grid and the rest from its power station.
Drax's proposal to build a datacentre at its North Yorkshire biomass power station has drawn criticism over its potential environmental impact. An analysis by the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC) suggests the facility could burn 4.9 million tonnes of wood annually, resulting in 8.6 million tonnes of CO2 emissions per year. This figure is nearly double the total CO2 emissions from all flights departing from Gatwick airport in 2024.
Campaigners argue that burning millions of trees to power datacentres, which are essential for the growing demand for AI capabilities, is unsustainable. The NRDC estimates that such biomass energy accounting, which claims carbon neutrality through reforestation, could take 150 years to become truly carbon negative. Scientists and environmental experts contest this approach.
Drax plans a 1.2GW datacentre, with 100MW to be drawn from the electricity grid and the remainder from its own power station. The company stated that the NRDC's assertions are inaccurate and based on fundamental errors regarding greenhouse gas accounting standards for biomass and bioenergy, and the datacentre's potential power mix. Drax also highlighted that the plans could support UK economic growth and industrial renewal.
The datacentre has not yet entered formal planning, but Drax indicated it could be operational from 2031 if consents are secured. There is growing pressure for government regulation, with some calling for a moratorium on new datacentre applications until clear policies are established regarding their need, purpose, location, and pollution control. The UK government has previously rejected a moratorium, citing concerns about deterring investment and job creation.