But whether the £2bn project to install plant to capture carbon dioxide emissions from two existing biomass units will be built hangs in the balance over Government funding.

The Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) project could deliver up to 10,000 high-skilled jobs in the Humber at the peak of the project’s construction as well as safeguarding 7,000 direct and supply chain jobs.

Drax Group’s ambition is to source up to 80% of the materials and services it needs to develop BECCS in the UK from British businesses.

Initially it was hoped work to build carbon capture and storage could start as soon as this year.

But failure to make track 1 in the Government’s programme of first carbon capture schemes has pushed the project start back to 2027. This delay has made made its necessary for the Government to extend costly renewable support for the project, which needs to be agreed.

Will Gardiner, CEO Drax Group, said that its plans to invest billions could only advance subject to the right support from the UK Government.

He said: “The DCO approval is another milestone in the development of our BECCS plans, and demonstrates both the continued role that Drax power station has in delivering UK energy security and the critical role it could have in delivering large-scale carbon dioxide removals to meet net zero targets.

“We look forward to working with our supply chain and other partners over the coming years on the project which, when fully operational, will deliver secure renewable power and approximately 8 million tonnes of carbon dioxide removals per year.

“We welcome the ongoing development of policy support for BECCS and the anticipated launch of a consultation on a bridging mechanism for biomass generators to take them from the end of current renewable schemes through to BECCS operations.”