- UK shuts down its last coal plant
- Transition to renewable energy progresses rapidly
- Clean energy jobs and technologies emerge
The UK, which has used coal to generate electricity since 1882, is set to close its final coal-fired power station, marking a significant shift towards renewable energy. The Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in Nottinghamshire, owned by Uniper, will cease operations on Monday, ending 142 years of coal usage for electricity production in the country.
As the first nation to generate public power from coal, the UK will now become the first G7 country to eliminate coal power entirely. Over the past decades, renewable energy sources like solar and offshore wind have gradually replaced coal, which once accounted for 80% of the UK’s electricity needs in 1990.
The transition to cleaner energy hasn’t been without challenges. The UK’s reliance on natural gas, combined with its volatile prices, has contributed to rising energy costs. In fact, the International Energy Agency reported that the UK has the highest industrial power prices in the developed world. This price surge has impacted sectors like manufacturing, leading to the closure of the country’s largest virgin steelworks on Monday.
Ratcliffe-on-Soar has been the last remaining coal plant since September 2023, held primarily in reserve for extreme weather conditions. While coal-fired plants were on standby during the 2022/23 winter, none were paid to remain operational last year. On its final day, Ratcliffe contributed 0.7% of the UK’s electricity output, enough to power two million homes. The plant, which started generating electricity in 1968, employs 170 staff members, most of whom will remain during the two-year decommissioning process.
Dhara Vyas, deputy chief executive of Energy UK, highlighted the country’s swift energy transition, noting that coal was the leading power source just ten years ago, supplying one-third of the UK’s electricity. Today, it has been replaced by clean and low-carbon sources, a testament to the UK’s commitment to combating climate change.
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As part of its ambitious goal, the Labour government aims to achieve net-zero emissions from electricity generation by 2030. Their efforts include lifting the ban on onshore wind farms and focusing on new technologies like carbon capture and storage.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks praised coal workers, acknowledging their contributions to the nation’s power supply over the past 140 years. He emphasized that while the coal era is ending, a new chapter of energy jobs in wind power and clean technologies is just beginning. The government’s mission to become a clean energy superpower is aimed at boosting energy security, creating jobs, and protecting families from fluctuating fossil fuel prices.
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