Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether the current subsidy arrangement with Drax includes support for burning old growth forest wood in its power station.

Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

Sustainability criteria require biomass to be legally harvested, and comply with any applicable legislation in the countries of origin to protect primary forest and old growth areas. Old growth sources are not excluded as some jurisdictions permit harvesting for valid reasons, such as fire prevention or disease control.

We have not seen evidence that the bioenergy industry drives harvesting decisions as it accepts low-value residues which would otherwise become waste.

Nevertheless, we have introduced an explicit exclusion for primary material harvested in old-growth areas in the new contract to eliminate this risk.

Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask His Majesty's Government whether wood pellets sourced from old growth forests in Canada have been burned in the Drax Power Station in 2024 and 2025.

Answered by Lord Whitehead - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)

We have not seen evidence that material sourced from old growth forests in Canada has been used for UK power generation and Drax has a policy of not sourcing directly from protected Old Growth Management Areas or Old Growth Deferral Areas in British Columbia.

Nevertheless, we have introduced an explicit exclusion for material harvested in old-growth areas in the new contract to eliminate this risk. Any breaches would result in significant financial penalties and could lead to termination of the contract. This will be enforced by enhanced assurance and audit arrangements.