UK Biomass Strategy - Support for Biomass and Priority Role for BECCS

The UK Government has published a Biomass Strategy that highlights the potential role of biomass in achieving net zero emissions. The Strategy emphasizes the importance of Bioenergy Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) in providing large-scale carbon removals. Drax CEO, Will Gardiner, welcomes the Strategy and expresses the company's readiness to invest billions in delivering BECCS at Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire.

The Strategy sets a priority role for BECCS in achieving carbon removal targets. The Government aims to deliver 5Mt of carbon removals by 2030, with BECCS expected to provide the majority of the total in 2050. The Strategy also supports the use of biomass for power and heating in the period leading up to 2035, while facilitating the transition to BECCS. Beyond 2035, biomass without BECCS will still have a role in harder to decarbonize sectors and energy security.

The Strategy acknowledges the global availability of sustainable biomass and states that there is sufficient material to meet future demand. The Government will continue to develop sustainability criteria, and Drax supports the development of robust standards across sectors.

In addition to the Strategy, the Government has published an evidence-based assessment of BECCS as a route to negative emissions. The assessment highlights the positive outcomes of well-regulated BECCS for people, the environment, and the climate.

Drax Power Station's BECCS project has passed the deliverability assessment and is in ongoing discussions with the Government to move the project forward. Drax believes that its BECCS project is the only one in the UK that can help the Government achieve its carbon removal targets.

The Government has designated the Viking CCS cluster as a Track 2 cluster, which supports the development of a CO2 transport and storage network in the Humber region. This is a significant step towards meeting net zero ambitions and ensuring energy security. The Government also plans to expand its wider CCS program for individual projects, including BECCS.

Overall, the Biomass Strategy and the support for BECCS demonstrate the Government's commitment to utilizing biomass and carbon capture technologies to achieve net zero emissions. Drax is actively engaged in discussions with the Government to deliver its BECCS project and contribute to the country's climate goals.