Why Is The Drax Power Station Counted As A Renewable Source Of Energy?

[ToraToraTora]

It uses diesel ships to transport vandalised forests to burn, Jesus on a bicycle.
It's clearly anything but carbon neutral and to be counted as such is a travesty. Can anyone shed any light on this?

[Hopkirk]

I think the theory is that it isn't burning fossil fuels.

[Mamyalynne]

I can't claim to know the answers you seek, but their page has links that may help.

https://www.drax.com/

[ToraToraTora]

"I think the theory is that it isn't burning fossil fuels." - well it's worse, It's burning trees that absorb carbon when alive to make more carbon. Ok so they claim they plan a new tree. Right oh one new sapling = a 100 year old tree does it?

Mamy I've read their propaganda.

[bednobs]

you mention 2 different things - renewable (which trees are) and carbon neutral. Which one do they claim to be?

[ToraToraTora]

they claim to be carbon neutral. Yeah trees are renewable, technically, eventually so is coal! It's not what I would call renewable and how can it be carbon neutral? Most of the wood comes from Canada/US massive processing and transport energy costs not to mention that one replacement tree planted (is that true and verified?) is not equivalent to a mature one chopped down is it. Not to mention the decimated forest land the process leaves behind. If anyone can come up with a valid defence and justification for this madness I'm all ears.

[bednobs]

where do they claim to be carbon neutral? not on their website https://www.drax.com/sustainability/carbon-emissions/towards-carbon-negative/

[davebro]

It's to massage the numbers and make 'em look like they are doin sumfink innit.

[ToraToraTora]

Well they do also use coal at drax but lets take the Biomass in isolation. https://www.clientearth.org/the-greenwashing-files/drax/
"Drax’s burning of wood biomass has been found to produce higher levels of CO2 from smokestacks than its coal did, but these combustion emissions are allowed to be counted as ‘zero’ under international carbon accounting principles and EU and UK law, on the basis that any deforestation should be counted elsewhere, at the forest level." - they claim they will be carbon negative by 2030 but whatever their claim actually is the figures they are allowed to use and what they are allowed to omit make the whole thing a massive sham. "But scientists call into question the assumptions behind the carbon accounting: that forests are actually expanding, including because they are harvested, and that the ‘carbon payback’ from forest growth over decades will happen in time for urgent climate pathways. The climate impact of removing wood depends on the type – sawmill residues or logging by-product that would be burned anyway is not the same as the removal of trees or disturbance of soil which would otherwise capture carbon. However, felling trees for biomass energy can deplete forest carbon sinks." - essentially they have this "carbon accounting" method that is basically fraudulent accounting.

[bednobs]

so where have you seen them claim to be carbon neutral?

[ToraToraTora]

"but these combustion emissions are allowed to be counted as ‘zero’ under international carbon accounting principles and EU and UK law," - how many times do you want it spelled out bednobs.

[ToraToraTora]

perhaps a Graniad report would suit you more:
https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/mar/23/green-groups-dispute-power-station-claim-biomass-carbon-neutral
"The plans are being pioneered by Drax Group, which claims that burning wood pellets is carbon-neutral because trees absorb as much carbon dioxide when they grow as they emit when they are burnt."

[bednobs]

so where have you seen them claim they are carbon neutral, TTT?

[ToraToraTora]

even Greta is weighing in: "A rising number of scientists and environmental campaigners, including Greta Thunberg, have cast doubt on Drax’s “carbon neutral” claims because they doubt that forests can be replaced quickly enough to absorb the carbon emissions required to slow the climate crisis."

[ToraToraTora]

ok nobs you're playing games, see the Guardian report, they report that they claim they are Carbon Neutral. No I can't find a video of the CEO claiming it.

[bednobs]

so where have you seen drax claim to be carbon neutral TTT?

[bednobs]

fundamentally i absolutely agree with you - it's all smoke and mirrors to make them look better, it's just you claim that drax claims to be carbon neutral - and i can't see where it does. You asked for light to be shed, and i'm just trying to help

[bookbinder]

https://www.theguardian.com/business/2021/mar/23/green-groups-dispute-power-station-claim-biomass-carbon-neutral

[ToraToraTora]

here is drax's own video

[ToraToraTora]

at 40 seconds in "The basic cycle of growth combustion and regrowth is carbon neutral"

[bednobs]

according to your link uk law allows them to claim biomass as neutral. However, they dont just use biomass, and therefore dont claim to be carbon neutral