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Timber: Imports

Asked by Sir John HayesConservativeDepartment for Energy Security and Net ZeroTabled Answered 14 July 2025UIN 64978

The question

To ask the Secretary of State for Energy Security and Net Zero, whether his Department has made an estimate of the carbon footprint of importing wood pellets in the last 10 years.

Answered by Michael Shanks

Emissions from importing wood pellets are constrained by biomass sustainability requirements. The supply chain emissions threshold for large scale biomass electricity generators to receive support is capped at 55.6gCO2e/MJ. This threshold will be tightened further under proposed future arrangements with Drax to 36.6 gCO2e/MJ.

Compliance with sustainability criteria under the Renewables Obligation and Contracts for Difference schemes are a matter for Ofgem, as the independent energy regulator, and LCCC, as the counterparty to the CfD.

Large scale biomass generators, such as Drax, do also publish emissions data as part of their annual ESG reports.

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