30 September 2024 marks a historic shift in the UK’s energy trajectory with the final closure of Ratcliffe-on-Soar coal-fired power station , the country’s last. This brings to a close a chapter in 142 years of history, since the first coal-fired power plant was switched on in London in 1882.
For decades, Uniper-owned Ratcliffe power station was key to maintaining electricity supplies, generating enough power to power two million homes . However, the shift to cleaner energy and the fight against climate change have led the country to phase out coal from its energy mix.
The closure of the coal-fired power plant marks a new stage
Starting today, 1 October 2024, the UK officially begins a new era of coal-free energy, representing a key step towards full decarbonisation by 2030. The transition to renewable energy such as solar and wind has been fundamental in this process, reducing emissions from the energy sector by 74% since 2012.
As a report by Ember points out, this change is not only historic in terms of energy supply, but also symbolises the UK’s ability to lead in the fight against climate change. Ratcliffe’s closure is the result of strategic policies that incentivised the growth of renewable energy, reducing reliance on coal and avoiding 880 million tonnes of CO₂ emissions over the past 12 years .
The path to a fully decarbonised future is not without its challenges, but the UK is determined to maintain its leadership in clean energy, aiming for a 100% renewable energy system by 2030. Lessons learned from phasing out coal will now serve to accelerate the transition to zero-emission energy, with a clear focus on reducing reliance on gas too.
Follow us on social networks and don’t miss any of our publications!
YouTube LinkedIn Facebook Instagram X
Source and photo: Uniper
Loading...
