Drax datacentre could create nearly twice the yearly emissions of all Gatwick flights
Summary
Drax plans to build a datacentre that could produce nearly twice the carbon emissions of all flights from Gatwick airport each year. The datacentre would burn 4.9 million tonnes of wood annually to generate power, raising concerns about its environmental impact and alignment with the UK’s climate goals.Key Facts
- Drax wants to convert part of its biomass power plant in North Yorkshire into a datacentre.
- The datacentre would need 4.9 million tonnes of wood every year to produce energy.
- This wood-burning could release about 8.6 million tonnes of CO2 annually.
- The estimated emissions are almost double the 4.79 million tonnes of CO2 from all Gatwick flights in 2024.
- AI datacentres use a lot of electricity to run servers and cooling systems.
- There is debate about the environmental impact of burning wood for energy, with some scientists saying it could take 150 years to show climate benefits.
- The UK government has not paused datacentre development but some areas like Scotland have started temporary planning pauses.
- Critics call for clearer government rules on datacentres to prevent high pollution and protect climate targets.
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