Drax insiders privately raised concerns over its sustainability claims, court papers show

The Guardian - World NewsEN 6 min read 100% complete by Jillian Ambrose Energy correspondentFebruary 4, 2026 at 03:02 PM

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Court documents reveal that Drax executives internally questioned the validity of the company's sustainability claims regarding its biomass sourcing, even as the company publicly defended itself against allegations of using wood from old-growth forests. The concerns arose after a BBC documentary in October 2022 questioned Drax's sourcing practices in British Columbia, Canada. Despite receiving over £7 billion in subsidies based on sustainable sourcing, Drax faced scrutiny over its wood pellet imports. While Drax's CEO assured government officials of the company's compliance with sustainability requirements, internal communications suggest some executives lacked confidence in the evidence supporting these claims. The documents raise questions about the accuracy of Drax's assurances to ministers, civil servants, and the industry regulator.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

Ofgem 40% United Kingdom 50% Jacob Rees-Mogg 50% Will Gardiner ×260% British Columbia ×260% Canada ×260% BBC Panorama ×270% Drax ×10100%

Keywords

drax 100% sustainability claims 90% biomass 80% environmental concerns 70% wood pellets 70% court documents 60% forests 60% subsidies 60% bbc panorama documentary 50% energy company 50%