Knock on Wood?

The Drax power station in Yorkshire was converted from using coal, to generating electricity by burning millions of tonnes of imported wood pellets. Drax receives millions of pounds in subsidies, for its production of 'green energy' (https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-63089348). Drax is claimed to produce 12% of the UK's 'green energy'. Burning wood (rather than coal) is, of course, a million miles from 'green'. Carbon capture and appropriate levels of tree replanting might help. Even then, the process is largely carbon dioxide in and carbon dioxide out. The transporting of imported wood pellets also has its own large carbon 'footprint'. A BBC Panorama programme has now looked at the sourcing of some of Drax's wood pellets. The programme used satellite imaging; traced logging licences and used drone filming to establish that Drax is implicated in the destruction of two important areas of Canadian forest. Drax claim that their wood pellets are made from sawdust. Whole logs, however, seem to be used. Drax also maintains that 'thinning' the trees, reduces the risk of fire. This does not appear to be the primary motivation. The sooner Drax's operations can be replaced by real 'green energy' production, the better! They should not be rewarded by 'green energy' subsidies for their activities.