Question to the Department for Energy Security & Net Zero:

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether he will approve arrangements under which electricity generated by Drax from imported wood pellets is used to supply data centres; and what assessment he has made of the carbon and environmental impact of such use.

The government is committed to ensuring that the UK’s AI infrastructure is developed in a way that is both sustainable and aligned with our net zero ambitions. The Low-Carbon Dispatchable Contract for Difference, covering Drax's generation from 2027-31, requires Drax to request permission should they wish to supply power to a data centre from their biomass units during this period. Should such a request arise, DESNZ, working with the Low Carbon Contracts Company, would assess this on its merits, taking account of security of supply, value for money, and sustainability matters. Without such permission any data centre on the site could not draw power directly from the biomass units during this period. Regardless of the supply arrangements, Drax is contractually obliged to meet enhanced sustainability criteria for their power generation, which include requiring 100% of the biomass used to be obtained from sustainable sources.