Drax datacentre could emit nearly twice as much as all Gatwick flights

An NRDC analysis found that Drax's planned 1.2GW datacentre in North Yorkshire would burn 4.9m tonnes of wood a year, producing 8.6m tonnes of CO2 — nearly double the 4.79m tonnes emitted by all Gatwick flights in 2024. Drax disputes the figures and says the site could be fully operational from 2031.

• 1.2GW datacentre: 100MW from the grid, the rest from Drax's own plant
• 4.9m tonnes of wood a year would produce 8.6m tonnes of CO2
• That is nearly double Gatwick flights' 4.79m tonnes in 2024
• Drax says it could be fully operational from 2031 subject to consents