Great Britain is the first G7 country to phase out coal-fired power generation

The UK’s last remaining coal-fired power station will be shut down later on Monday as part of the switch to renewable energy.

The closure of Uniper’s Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in Nottinghamshire will mark the end of a 142-year history of burning fossil fuels to generate electricity in the country.

In 1882, Great Britain became the first country to use coal to generate public electricity.

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It will now be the first G7 country to end its use, as the gap caused by the phasing out of coal-fired power plants has been filled by green alternatives such as solar and offshore wind.

In 1990, coal provided about 80% of the country’s electricity needs but was phased out as part of efforts to combat climate change.

But this transition, driven by continued reliance on volatile natural gas prices, has come at a price: figures from the International Energy Agency show the UK has the highest industrial electricity prices in the developed world.

It explains the competition problem in British manufacturing and therefore the End of production in the country’s largest new steelworks on Monday.

As of September 2023, Ratcliffe-on-Soar is the last remaining coal-fired power station in the United Kingdom.

Such assets have been held in recent years primarily as a reserve in case of generation challenges, such as a cold winter.

There was There are no coal-fired power plants that are paid for their availability last year, compared to five in 2022/23.

Coal has accounted for less than 1% of Britain’s electricity generation in recent years, although Ratcliffe was operating on Monday, supplying 0.7% of the country’s electricity.

It has been generating electricity since 1968 and could provide enough electricity for two million homes.

It employs 170 people.

Most will continue during the two-year decommissioning process.

Dhara Vyas, deputy chief executive of industry body Energy UK, said: “Ten years ago coal was this country’s main source of energy – producing a third of our electricity.”

“So to get to this point just a decade later, where coal has been replaced by clean, low-carbon sources, is an incredible achievement.”

“As we strive for further ambitious goals in the energy transition, it must not be forgotten that at the time few would have thought such a transformation at such a pace was possible.”

The Labor government aims to achieve net zero emissions from electricity generation by 2030.

Their previous efforts have also included lifting the de facto ban on onshore wind farms.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks said: “Today’s closure of Ratcliffe marks the end of an era and coal miners can rightly be proud of the work that has powered our country for over 140 years. As a country, we owe a debt of gratitude to generations.”

“The age of coal may be coming to an end, but a new era of good energy jobs for our country is just beginning. The government’s mission for clean energy superpowers is to create good jobs in wind power and new technologies like carbon capture and storage .”

“This work helps strengthen our energy security and independence, protect families from international fossil fuel price increases, thereby creating jobs and combating climate change.”

(c) Sky News 2024: Great Britain is the first G7 country to phase out coal-fired power generation