Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to his answer of 27 February 2026 to question 113391 regarding the climate impact of Drax’s burning of wood, how many years it takes for the carbon debt to be paid off by replacement trees.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Biomass feedstocks for power production at Drax utilise waste wood and residues from productive forestry for other wood products. The carbon balance of these depends on forest type and management, amongst other variables, and cannot be attributed to the growth of replacement trees alone. The Government only supports the use of sustainable biomass and operators only receive subsidies for biomass that meets our sustainability criteria. UK sustainability criteria include requirements on sustainable forest management in the sourcing region, which applies to both domestically sourced and imported biomass.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to his Answer of 27 February 2026 to Question 113391 on the role of Drax in the power system, including its private sector clients, how many tonnes of wood were burned by Drax in each of the last five years and how many he expects to burned in each of the next five years.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Government does not gather or hold information on fuel used by Drax each year, however this data is published by Drax in the company’s annual ESG report, ESG Performance Report - Drax Global. Fuel use is also monitored and assured as part of the operation of subsidy schemes for large-scale electricity generation. This includes Ofgem, for Drax’s units under the Renewables Obligation, and the Low Carbon Contracts Company, for Drax’s unit currently operating on a Contract for Difference.
Future fuel use at Drax will depend on demand at the station, linked to its new dispatchable operation under the Low Carbon Dispatchable Contract for Difference from 2027. Drax will play a much more limited role in the system, providing dispatchable power only when the system really needs it. It will be supported to operate at a maximum load factor of 27%, operating less than half as often as it currently does. Accordingly, we anticipate that fuel use will reduce substantially under the new contract running from 2027-2031.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, pursuant to his answer of 27 February 2026 to Question 113391 regarding the impact of Drax’s burning of wood on carbon sequestration, what is his calculation for the number of years it takes for the carbon debt to be paid off by replacement trees.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Biomass feedstocks for power production at Drax utilise waste wood and residues from productive forestry for other wood products. The carbon balance of these depends on forest type and management, amongst other variables, and cannot be attributed to the growth of replacement trees alone. The Government only supports the use of sustainable biomass and operators only receive subsidies for biomass that meets our sustainability criteria. UK sustainability criteria include requirements on sustainable forest management in the sourcing region, which applies to both domestically sourced and imported biomass.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps the Government is taking to support the development of UK-based fusion supply chains.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is making a record investment of over £2.5 billion over five years in fusion energy, including funding for STEP, the UK’s world-leading programme to design and build a prototype power plant in Nottinghamshire.
As set out in the Industrial Strategy, this will support thousands of jobs and is key to growing UK fusion supply chains and building commercial partnerships with industry. The Government is also creating a pro-innovation policy environment, providing ongoing support for fusion R&D, skills development and supply chain growth.
Further detail on Government support for fusion will be set out in the forthcoming UK Fusion Strategy.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, how much funding he has allocated to fusion energy research and development.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is making a record investment of over £2.5 billion over five years in fusion energy, including funding for STEP, the UK’s world-leading programme to design and build a prototype power plant in Nottinghamshire.
As set out in the Industrial Strategy, this will support thousands of jobs and is key to growing UK fusion supply chains and building commercial partnerships with industry. The Government is also creating a pro-innovation policy environment, providing ongoing support for fusion R&D, skills development and supply chain growth.
Further detail on Government support for fusion will be set out in the forthcoming UK Fusion Strategy.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what the funding commitments are for the STEP programme.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is making a record investment of over £2.5 billion over five years in fusion energy, including funding for STEP, the UK’s world-leading programme to design and build a prototype power plant in Nottinghamshire.
As set out in the Industrial Strategy, this will support thousands of jobs and is key to growing UK fusion supply chains and building commercial partnerships with industry. The Government is also creating a pro-innovation policy environment, providing ongoing support for fusion R&D, skills development and supply chain growth.
Further detail on Government support for fusion will be set out in the forthcoming UK Fusion Strategy.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what information his Department holds on the (a) renewable subsidies received, (b) wood pellets burnt and (c) carbon dioxide emitted by the Drax power station since 2012.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
Drax has received almost £6.5bn in subsidy from to 2024 inclusive. Under the new contract from 2027, Drax will play a much more limited role in the power system, operating only when cheaper renewable power is not available. This new deal halves the subsidies for Drax – equivalent to saving billpayers around £6 per household per year.
Material for the wood pellets used in UK biomass electricity generation is sourced from forests which are sustainably managed to supply timber for housebuilding and furniture. Material removed that is unsuitable for other uses, together with sawmill residues, are a low-value by-product of sustainable forest management practices.
Stack emissions from biomass electricity generation should be considered as part of a wider picture, taking into account carbon sequestration in the short carbon cycle. This makes biomass significantly cleaner than fossil fuel alternatives, as emissions are netted off by the carbon absorbed from growing sustainable biomass.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether the Low Carbon Contracts Company has powers to end Drax’s operations as distinct from withdrawing individual subsidy payments.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The new Low Carbon Dispatchable Contract for Difference (CfD) with Drax includes powers for the Low Carbon Contracts Company (LCCC) to terminate the contract as the ultimate sanction for serious breaches of generating requirements or sustainability criteria.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, what steps his Department is taking to ensure energy suppliers are resolving noncommunicating smart meters.
Answered by Miatta Fahnbulleh - Parliamentary Under-Secretary (Housing, Communities and Local Government)
Over 90% of smart meters are sending automatic readings to energy suppliers. To drive this percentage up further we are working at pace alongside industry partners to share best practice and improve smart meter connectivity across Great Britain.
Ofgem is currently conducting compliance engagement into six energy suppliers in relation to their obligations to keep smart meters operating in smart mode. Ofgem is also currently consulting on new Guaranteed Standards of Performance (GSOPs) that will further strengthen consumer protections in cases where a smart meter is not sending automatic readings.
Asked by: Alex Sobel (Labour (Co-op) - Leeds Central and Headingley)
Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:
To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, when he plans to appoint the Independent Sustainability Advisor on large scale biomass.
Answered by Michael Shanks - Minister of State (Department for Energy Security and Net Zero)
The Government is working closely with the Low Carbon Contracts Company and Ofgem to finalise the remit for the independent advisor on biomass sustainability and will set out a timescale for the appointment in due course.