The United Kingdom is set to mark a historic milestone in its energy sector as it prepares to shut down its last coal-fired power station, Ratcliffe-on-Soar in central England.
This closure will end the nation’s 142-year reliance on coal for electricity generation, signalling a significant shift towards cleaner energy sources.
Ratcliffe-on-Soar, which has been operational since 1967, will soon cease operations, marking the end of coal-powered electricity production in the UK.
This event represents a crucial step in the country’s commitment to combat climate change and achieve its goal of generating all energy from renewable sources by 2030.
The UK’s journey away from coal has been remarkable:
- In 1990, coal fuelled approximately 80% of the country’s electricity.
- By 2023, coal’s contribution had plummeted to just 1%.
- Today, over half of the UK’s electricity comes from renewable sources.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks acknowledged the historical significance of this transition: “Today’s closure at Ratcliffe marks the end of an era, and coal workers can be rightly proud of their work powering our country for over 140 years. We owe generations a debt of gratitude as a country.
“The era of coal might be ending, but a new age of good energy jobs for our country is just beginning.
“The Government’s clean energy superpower mission is about creating good jobs in wind power and new technologies like carbon capture and storage.
“That work is helping boost our energy security and independence, protecting families from international hikes in the price of fossil fuels and with it, creating jobs and tackling climate change.”
As the birthplace of coal power, the UK is poised to become the first major economy to completely phase out coal-fired electricity production.
This achievement underscores the nation’s commitment to leading the global effort in transitioning to sustainable energy sources.
The closure of Ratcliffe-on-Soar not only marks the end of an era but also heralds a new chapter in the UK’s energy landscape, emphasising renewable sources and paving the way for a more sustainable future.
