Drax partners with NGIS to map carbon stocks in North American forests

Drax, the UK’s largest renewable power producer, has partnered with NGIS, a global leader in Geospatial technology, to model and monitor carbon stocks in the US and Canadian forests from which it sources biomass.
Drax produces, uses and sells biomass pellets and owns Drax Power Station, the UK’s largest single source of renewable electricity.
In 2024, the site generated over 5% of the country’s electricity from biomass sourced primarily from North America.
However, in August, the UK's Financial Conduct Authority (FCA), confirmed it has opened an inquiry into statements made by the North Yorkshire-based firm between January 2022 and March 2024 regarding the sourcing of wood used in its biomass operations.
The company said this partnership supports its Sustainability Framework, under which Drax has 'pledged to provide evidence of forest carbon stocks across all principal biomass feedstock sourcing areas by the end of 2026'.
Miguel Veiga-Pestana, Drax Group Chief Sustainability Officer, said: “We are proud to launch this new partnership with NGIS. It will help us deliver on our Sustainability Framework commitments, including ensuring our supply chain is free from deforestation, degradation and conversion.
“We hope this new data on carbon stocks will increase global confidence in biomass as a sustainable resource. It will guide our work with suppliers and help us meet our sustainable biomass commitments."
NGIS, a Google Premier Partner, specialises in Geospatial solutions that leverage Earth Observation data and AI to monitor global supply chains.
Under the partnership, NGIS will combine satellite imagery with machine-learning tools to model carbon storage in Drax’s sourcing forests and track indicators of forest health, including tree cover and condition.
The results are presented on an accessible digital platform, allowing users to compare satellite images over time to monitor harvesting, regrowth and reforestation.
Nathan Eaton, NGIS Executive Director, said: “This partnership is a great showcase for using innovative Geospatial capability to support Drax’s commitments to provide secure energy sustainably.”