UK power producer Drax has launched a new Biomass Tracker designed to improve visibility across its global biomass supply chain, as scrutiny around sustainable sourcing and reporting continues to intensify.
The newly released tool provides an interactive overview of how woody biomass moves from origin to end use.
Users can explore sourcing regions, fibre types, transport routes, storage stages and associated carbon emissions, as well as information on third-party sustainability certifications. The platform draws on quarterly operational data and presents supply chain flows through an interactive Sankey diagram.
According to Drax, the Biomass Tracker is intended to strengthen accountability and enable stakeholders to better understand the environmental footprint of biomass used at Drax Power Station in North Yorkshire and supplied to third-party customers.
Miguel Veiga-Pestana, Chief Sustainability Officer at Drax, said the platform supports the company’s broader sustainability commitments.
“Transparency and data-led reporting are essential to building trust and confidence in sustainable biomass. By showing where our biomass comes from and how it moves through our supply chain, we are showing through openness and accountability, that biomass can be sustainably sourced, to support the UK’s energy security,” he added.
The Biomass Tracker aligns with Drax’s Sustainability Framework, introduced in early 2025, which focuses on enhanced disclosure, digital innovation and improved reporting standards. The company said additional features and datasets will be added over time as part of its ongoing development roadmap.
Launch Comes as Regulatory Oversight Intensifies
The launch arrives against the backdrop of increased regulatory and public scrutiny of Drax’s biomass operations. The UK Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) is currently investigating the company’s biomass sourcing disclosures made between January 2022 and March 2024, as well as the accuracy of information contained in Drax’s annual reports for 2021 through 2023.
The investigation follows earlier enforcement action by energy regulator Ofgem, which examined whether Drax Power Limited had complied with reporting requirements under the Renewables Obligation scheme.
While Ofgem found no evidence of deliberate misreporting, it concluded that compliance failures had occurred. As part of the resolution, Drax agreed to contribute £25 million (~$34.5 million) to Ofgem’s Voluntary Redress Fund and implement corrective measures.
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Public debate around the sustainability of imported wood pellets has also intensified following media investigations questioning sourcing practices and environmental impacts linked to North American supply chains.
Drax has stated it will cooperate fully with the FCA investigation and continues to defend its sustainability credentials. The company positions the Biomass Tracker as a step toward greater openness, providing regulators, investors and the public with improved access to supply chain data.
As the role of biomass in the UK’s energy transition remains contested, the effectiveness of tools like the Biomass Tracker may prove critical in shaping confidence around the sector’s long-term credibility.
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