The UK government’s decision to halve subsidies for the Drax power station is a step in the right direction, but it fails to address the core issue: continued investment in outdated technologies that benefit corporate interests rather than the public good. Instead of propping up biomass burning—a controversial and inefficient energy source—the government should focus on upgrading the national grid to fully utilize renewable energy and prevent wastage at peak times.

Drax, located in North Yorkshire, began operations in 1974 as a coal-fired power station and has since transitioned to burning wood pellets, a practice that has drawn widespread criticism for its environmental impact. In 2019, Drax’s annual emissions totalled 15.1 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent, with 12.8 million tonnes resulting from burning biomass. Per unit of energy produced, Drax emits approximately 800-900g of CO2 per kWh, significantly higher than a typical combined cycle gas turbine (CCGT) plant, which averages around 350-400g of CO2 per kWh. While the new agreement will see Drax operating less frequently and sourcing 100% of its biomass from sustainable sources, it remains a short-term fix that diverts funds from truly clean energy solutions.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks acknowledged that previous subsidies allowed Drax to reap “unacceptably large profits.” However, the government’s continued reliance on costly and questionable bioenergy schemes undermines genuine progress. Greenpeace has called the deal “a dirty compromise with past failures,” warning that taxpayer money should not be funnelled into polluting industries.

Rather than funding half-measures, the government must invest in a smarter, more resilient energy grid capable of storing and distributing wind and solar power efficiently. Companies like Siemens Energy are already developing advanced grid infrastructure solutions that could vastly improve energy transmission and reduce reliance on fossil fuel backups. Similarly, Invinity Energy Systems is pioneering vanadium flow battery technology, providing scalable and long-duration energy storage crucial for balancing renewable generation. Without such infrastructure upgrades, excess renewable energy will continue to be wasted, and reliance on backup fossil fuels will persist. The focus should be on modernizing the grid, not subsidizing outdated corporate interests.

#EnergyTransition #RenewableEnergy #GridUpgrade #StopSubsidizingPollution #ClimateAction