Drax Group plc, commonly referred to as Drax, is a leading energy company headquartered in Great Britain. Founded in 2005, Drax has established itself as a key player in the renewable energy sector, primarily focusing on biomass and hydroelectric power generation. The company operates major facilities in the UK, including its flagship Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire, which is one of the largest power stations in Europe. Drax is renowned for its commitment to sustainability, transforming from a coal-based energy provider to a predominantly biomass-fuelled operation. This transition has positioned Drax as a pioneer in the energy industry, contributing significantly to the UK’s decarbonisation efforts. With a strong market presence, Drax continues to innovate in energy solutions, aiming to deliver reliable and renewable power while reducing carbon emissions.
How does Drax's carbon action stack up? DitchCarbon scores companies based on their carbon action and commitment to reducing emissions. Read about our methodology to learn more.
Mean score of companies in the Electricity from Other Sources industry. Comparing a company's score to the industry average can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
Drax's score of 84 is higher than 93% of the industry. This can give you a sense of how well the company is doing compared to its peers.
In 2024, Drax Group plc reported total greenhouse gas emissions of approximately 2,660,000,000 kg CO2e, comprising 266,000,000 kg CO2e from Scope 1, 367,000,000 kg CO2e from Scope 2 (market-based), and about 2,867,000,000 kg CO2e from Scope 3 emissions. The company has set ambitious targets to achieve net zero emissions across all scopes by 2030, with specific commitments to reduce Scope 1 and 2 emissions from electricity generation by 75.7% per MWh from a 2020 baseline. Additionally, Drax aims to reduce absolute Scope 1 and 2 emissions from all other sources by 42% by 2030. Drax is also focusing on negative emissions through the development of Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) technology, targeting 8 million tonnes of negative emissions annually by 2030. The company has committed to reducing its Scope 2 emissions to near zero by 2025 and has reported a 75.7% reduction in Scope 1 and 2 emissions from electricity generation by 2030. Overall, Drax's climate commitments reflect a strong alignment with industry standards and a proactive approach to addressing climate change, aiming for significant reductions in its carbon footprint while transitioning towards a more sustainable energy model.
Access structured emissions data, company-specific emission factors, and source documents
| 2019 | 2020 | 2021 | 2022 | 2023 | 2024 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scope 1 | 2,049,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
| Scope 2 | 322,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 | 000,000,000 |
| Scope 3 | - | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 | 0,000,000,000 |
Drax's Scope 3 emissions, which decreased by 19% last year and decreased by approximately 9% since 2020, demonstrating supply chain emissions tracking. The vast majority of their carbon footprint comes from suppliers and value chain emissions, representing the vast majority of total emissions under the GHG Protocol, with "Fuel and Energy Related Activities" being the largest emissions source at 47% of Scope 3 emissions.
Climate goals typically focus on 2030 interim targets and 2050 net-zero commitments, aligned with global frameworks like the Paris Agreement and Science Based Targets initiative (SBTi) to ensure alignment with global climate goals.
Drax has established climate goals through participation in recognized frameworks and target-setting initiatives. Companies often set interim 2030 targets and long-term 2050 net-zero goals to demonstrate measurable progress toward decarbonization.

Common questions about Drax's sustainability data and climate commitments