Sustainable wood source

Sir, - In response to Clark Cross (June 5), Drax is playing a leading role in helping to change the way energy is generated, supplied and used as the UK moves to a lowcarbon future.

We have invested £650 million in upgrad-

ing half of our power station in North Yorkshire to use sustainable compressed wood pellets (biomass) instead of coal.

Our biomass-fuelled generating units deliver carbon savings of 80% compared to when they used coal.

This is an independently audited figure, which takes account of the transportation of the sustainable biomass we use, most of which is sourced from North America.

The majority of the wood used in our highquality, sustainable biomass comes from the expansive working forests of the US South, which provide an abundant supply of low-grade wood.

In these working forests the primary product is high grade timber used to supply industries including construction and furniture making.

We take the low-grade material including tree tops, limbs, sawmill residues, misshapen and diseased trees not suitable for other use, as well as thinnings; small trees removed to maximise the growth of the forest.

We require our suppliers to pass tough screening and sustainability tests, set by the UK Government and independently audited. We only source from sustainable working forests that grow back and stay as forests. Since the 1950s, forest stocks in the US South have increased by more than 100%.

Having upgraded half of the power station to use sustainable wood pellets, Drax now produces 16% of the UK’s renewaPeople ble electricity – enough to power four million households – helping to cut carbon emissions and keep the lights on. Andy Koss. CEO, Drax Power, Selby, North Yorkshire.