Biomass generated 40.1 TWh of electricity in the United Kingdom in 2024 – about 7.1% of total UK output – from 3.8 GW of dedicated plant biomass and co-firing capacity. The sector is dominated by large coal-to-biomass conversions such as Drax (2.6 GW) and Lynemouth (420 MW), with new plants planned such as the 299 MW Tees Renewable Energy Plant.
History
In 2003 Drax Power Station began co-firing biomass as a renewable alternative to coal. 2012 – the 750 MW Tilbury B hoped to become the world's largest biomass unit but was shut down in 2013. 2013–2018 – Drax converted three of its six 660 MW units and built four 80 000-t storage domes. 2021 – Coal generation fell below 2% of UK electricity; biomass overtook it for the first time. September 2024 – the final coal plant at Ratcliffe-on-Soar closed, leaving converted biomass as the only solid-fuel baseload option.
Capacity and generation
Major biomass power stations
Station Location Output (MW) Type Fuel source NotesDraxNorth Yorkshire2 580ConversionImported pellets (US SE; Canada)Largest biomass plant in the worldLynemouth Power StationNorthumberland420ConversionImported pelletsFull biomass since 2018SnettertonNorfolk44New buildStraw & chipsSupplies beet-sugar refineryWheldon Road CHPSelby75CHPPelletsSupplies Drax rail unloading facility
Heat sector Heat production in the United Kingdom is dominated by fossil fuels - particularly natural gas - which together supply over 90% of heat; the contribution from biomass is modest at about 6%.
Transport biofuels Under the Renewable Transport Fuel Obligation (RTFO) suppliers blended 1.89 billion litres of sustainable liquid biofuel in 2024 (9.1% by energy).
Economics and subsidies Between 2012 and 2024 Drax alone received £11 billion in Renewable Obligation and CfD support; 2024 top-up payments totalled £869 million. Critics argue that burning imported wood is neither cost-effective nor carbon-neutral.
Sustainability debate
A 2025 analysis by Ember found Drax emitted 13.3 Mt CO₂ in 2024 – more than the UK's six most carbon-intensive gas plants combined. NGOs and academics question the UK's carbon-accounting rules that rate imported biomass as zero-emission at the point of combustion. The proposed Tees Renewable Energy Plant is being challenged in court because of alleged environmental impacts.
Policy and targets The UK Biomass Strategy 2023 sets a hierarchy of uses favouring waste biomass and hard-to-electrify sectors and envisages up to 5 Mt CO₂ y⁻¹ of durable removals via BECCS by 2030.
See also Renewable energy in the United Kingdom Bioenergy in the European Union Biofuel in the United Kingdom Energy policy of the United Kingdom
References
External links
Ember – Bioenergy research hub Electric Insights: real-time UK biomass generation