The Drax power station is “by far the largest emitter of carbon dioxide (CO2) in the country” despite its self-proclaimed carbon-cutting credentials, the Ember think tank has said.

Located near Selby in North Yorkshire, Drax started life as a coal-fired power station when it was opened in 1974, but started co-firing biomass by 2010 in response to government concerns about the UK’s carbon emissions.

But according to the report, which collates official data and company annual reports to produce an annual ranking of emitters, Drax actually emits more CO2 than the next four largest power stations in the country combined. Emitting 11.5 million tonnes (Mt) of CO2 in 2023, Drax was found to be the largest single CO2 emitter in the UK, responsible for the equivalent of 2.9% of total UK territorial emissions.

Nevertheless, the station generated less power (11.5TWh) in 2023 than in previous years – a fall from 12.7TWh in 2022.

According to Ember, wood pellets have an equivalent carbon intensity to...