The planned Drax data center in North Yorkshire, powered by biomass, could emit nearly twice as much CO2 as all flights from Gatwick Airport in 2024, according to an analysis by the NRDC reported by The Guardian.
NRDC estimates that the facility would require 4.9 million tons of wood annually, leading to potential emissions of 8.6 million tons of CO2. Environmental advocates have labeled the project a contender for one of the "dirtiest data centers".
In 2025, Drax announced plans to convert part of its biomass power plant into a data center to meet the rising demand for AI computing power. The company has indicated in public documents that it is considering a facility with a capacity of 1.2 GW, with 100 MW expected to come from the grid and the remainder from its own generation.
Source: Drax.The project has not yet entered the formal approval process. Drax has stated that the data center could begin operations by 2031, pending necessary permits.
Media reports noted that the Drax power station already burns millions of tons of imported wood. The company promotes this model as "clean" and capable of achieving "negative emissions" over time, although this approach is contested by scientists and environmental experts. Research indicates that such systems may take up to 150 years to become carbon-negative.
Article: "Decades of Emissions Growth from Biomass Fuel Use in BECCS Technologies." Source: Nature.Following the publication, a Drax representative challenged the NRDC's conclusions, arguing that the estimates lacked independent verification and contained errors, particularly in interpreting international greenhouse gas accounting standards for biomass and bioenergy, as well as in calculating the projected energy balance of the data center.
Journalists estimate that 315 data centers are queued to connect to the UK power grid, with a total demand of 73 GW—almost double the peak electricity demand across the UK during winter. This situation is increasing pressure on authorities, with critics questioning the compatibility of energy-intensive data centers with the UK’s green priorities.
On September 17, the UK government refused to impose a moratorium on approving data centers and energy storage systems, as demanded by petitioners. The day before, the Scottish Parliament supported a resolution stating that decisions on applications for hyper-scale data centers should not be made until the government publishes national planning guidance, which is expected to take up to 12 months. The document will be advisory, and MPs rejected calls for a full moratorium proposed by the Greens.
Earlier, the UK was warned of a potential water crisis due to the scaling of AI.
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