Drax Datacentre Emissions: Nearly Double Gatwick Flights Annually 2026

The Drax datacentre emissions could create nearly twice the yearly emissions of all Gatwick flights, according to a new analysis. The energy company Drax plans to convert part of its biomass power plant in North Yorkshire into a datacentre to meet AI demand, but campaigners warn it could become one of the dirtiest datacentres in the world.

Drax Datacentre Emissions: A Major Environmental Concern

Drax's proposed datacentre would burn 4.9 million tonnes of wood annually, producing emissions nearly double those of all flights out of Gatwick airport each year. This revelation has sparked outrage among environmentalists who argue that the project undermines UK climate goals.

Last year, Drax unveiled plans to repurpose part of its biomass power plant into a datacentre to cater to the surging demand for AI capability. AI datacentres consume massive amounts of electricity to power servers, cooling equipment, and facility systems.

Energy Demand and Grid Strain

There are currently 315 datacentres in the queue to connect to the UK's electricity grid, representing 73GW of demand—almost double the peak winter energy demand for the entire UK. Drax's datacentre alone is planned to be 1.2GW, with 100MW from the grid and the rest from its own power station.

Biomass: Clean Energy or Carbon Disaster?

The Drax power station burns millions of tonnes of imported wood to generate energy. This has been touted as a clean way of producing energy that could even result in 'negative emissions' as replacement forests absorb CO2. However, scientists and environmental experts strongly contest this accounting approach.

Researchers have found that such systems could take 150 years to become carbon negative, meaning they contribute to global heating for decades. Campaigners argue that this makes Drax's datacentre one of the dirtiest out there.

Comparison of Emissions: Drax Datacentre vs. Gatwick Flights

As shown, the Drax datacentre could emit nearly twice the CO2 of all Gatwick flights annually.

Key Takeaways

• Drax's datacentre could emit nearly double the CO2 of all Gatwick flights yearly.
• Burning 4.9 million tonnes of wood annually raises significant environmental concerns.
• The project adds massive strain to the UK's electricity grid.
• Biomass energy's carbon neutrality is disputed by scientists.
• Campaigners label it one of the dirtiest datacentres.

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