Protesters from the Axe Drax campaign set up on the University of Sheffield campus over March, following their disruption of the Labour party conference early this month.
The Drax group states the plant is “now the site of innovation for bioenergy with carbon capture and storage”, despite a flurry of accusations that the site is greenwashing and driving environmental racism.
The Drax Power Station burns millions of tonnes of wood pellets imported from protected forests in the US, British Columbia and Brazil every year. The Axe Drax group has called for an end to the government subsidisation of the plant, claiming the plant disproportionately affects minority communities, and students are showing their support.
Adam, a Geography student who gave only his first name, said: “The Uni needs to stop pretending that developing carbon capture technology is anything but a fantasy.
“Students don’t want to study somewhere which supports greenwashed carbon capture lies.”
Drax claims to be carbon neutral because they use carbon capture technology, but emit as much if not more CO2 than average gas or coal power plants.
Rachel Reeves announced new subsidies for the Drax plant from 2027 to 2031 at the Yorkshire Labour Party Conference in March, estimating a £2bn impact on bill payers.
The Axe Drax group disrupted the conference and were forcibly removed.
Rosie, an Axe Drax protester who only shared her first name, called the decision to extend subsidies for Drax “an absolute disaster” for bill payers, the environment and local communities.
She said: “Drax has already pocketed billions in government subsidies on the basis of it being a green solution to our energy problems, we were sold a lie.”
The wood pellets that the plant burns for energy are detailed as ‘carbon neutral’ by the UK government, and are therefore tax-payer funded.
Drax Power Station is the world’s number one tree burner and the UK’s largest emitter of CO2, accounting for 5% of UK energy.
Sheffield University’s Young Greens society pledged their full support of the Axe Drax campaign, labelling the pollution as “sickening”.
we believe that the Government is only worsening the ongoing climate crisis by continuing to support projects like this
“The government has given over £6 billion worth of subsidies to Drax since 2012 and we firmly believe that this is a waste.”
“Drax is the UK’s single largest carbon emitter. Rather than giving approximately £460m a year in subsidies, we must spend that money on renewable energy – on solar, wind, wave and hydro – to secure a safer and greener future for us all”
Axe Drax campaign leaders called Drax’s green credentials “based on dodgy carbon accounting”, stating that the future subsidies would lead to “business-as-usual tree burning, with no clear end date in sight”.
“Drax’s operation model exploits and pollutes poor, black communities for profit and the UK Government is funding it via our energy bills.”
The group has accused Drax of subsidising environmental racism, both in the UK and in the US, with its Mississippi pellet manufacturer creating health issues for the largely black communities nearby.
Drax has been fined $2.5m for breaking emission limits over 11,000 times.
Maisie, another Geography student choosing to only give a first name, said: “Us, the student body, oppose the university’s support of Drax. The plant’s importing of wood from the US creates issues for the largely black communities there and for locals here in the UK.
“They say they’re being choked by fumes. We can’t allow this to continue. We must end university support for Drax now, action must be taken.”
Protests against Drax and the University’s support are set to continue, with Axe Drax at the forefront and the student body seemingly behind them in their efforts.
Drax Global has been approached for comment.
