The United Kingdom officially closed its last coal-fired power plant on Monday, marking a significant milestone as the first G7 nation to eliminate coal from its electricity generation.
Decarbonizing its Energy Supply
This closure of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station, which began operations in 1967, underscores the UK's commitment to decarbonizing its energy supply by 2030 and achieving net-zero carbon emissions by 2050, according to Digi24.
The move reflects a broader trend among G7 countries, where Italy aims to phase out coal by 2025, France by 2027, Canada by 2030, and Germany by 2038. Notably, Japan and the United States have yet to establish definitive timelines for their coal phase-out.
According to the British government, this closure represents both an end to an era and the beginning of a new chapter focused on job creation in the green energy sector.
Uniper, the German energy company that owns the plant, plans to dismantle it completely by the end of the decade, with plans for a carbon-free energy and technology cluster to replace it.
Once a Cornerstone
Coal was once a cornerstone of the UK economy, contributing nearly 70% of electricity generation as recently as the 1980s. However, its share plummeted dramatically over the years, falling to 38% in 2013, 5% in 2018, and just 1% in the past year.
The transition away from coal has been largely fueled by stricter regulations initiated in the 1990s due to environmental concerns and a decline in manufacturing.
Today, natural gas is the dominant source of electricity, accounting for about one-third of production in 2023, while wind energy contributes 25% and nuclear energy around 13%.
Environmental advocates, such as Tony Bosworth from Friends of the Earth, emphasize the need to shift focus from natural gas to rapidly expanding the UK's renewable energy potential.
Doug Parr from Greenpeace UK lauds the UK's actions as a model for the world. As part of its green energy strategy, the UK government plans to establish a public company named Great British Energy, based in Aberdeen, to invest in floating wind turbines, tidal energy, and nuclear power, further advancing its clean energy goals.
