The ultimate coal-fired energy station left within the UK might be shut down in a while Monday amid the transition to renewable vitality.
The closure of Uniper-owned Ratcliffe-on-Soar energy station in Nottinghamshire will convey to an finish a 142-year historical past of burning fossil gas to supply electrical energy within the nation.
The UK was the primary, in 1882, to utilise coal for public energy era.
Cash newest:Prime chef reveals his fried hen recipe – and you can also make it for price of KFC
It should now be the primary G7 nation to finish its use because the void from gradual coal-fired closures has been crammed by inexperienced alternate options together with photo voltaic and offshore wind.
Coal accounted for round 80% of the nation’s energy wants in 1990 however has been phased out underneath efforts to fight local weather change.
That transition, nevertheless, led by a continued dependence on unstable pure gasoline costs, has come at a price with Worldwide Vitality Company figures exhibiting the UK has the very best industrial energy costs within the developed world.
X
This content material is supplied by X, which can be utilizing cookies and different applied sciences.
To point out you this content material, we’d like your permission to make use of cookies.
You should use the buttons under to amend your preferences to allow X cookies or to permit these cookies simply as soon as.
You’ll be able to change your settings at any time by way of the Privateness Choices.
Sadly we have now been unable to confirm when you have consented to X cookies.
To view this content material you should use the button under to permit X cookies for this session solely.
Allow Cookies
Permit Cookies As soon as
It explains the competitiveness downside inside UK manufacturing and, pertinently, the tip of manufacturing on the nation’s largest virgin steelworks on Monday.
Ratcliffe-on-Soar has been the final coal-fired energy station standing within the UK since September 2023.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
2:55
Hundreds of steelworkers to lose jobs
Such property have been primarily held in reserve in recent times in case of era challenges, comparable to a chilly winter.
There have been no coal-fired energy vegetation paid to be on standby final 12 months, in comparison with 5 in 2022/23.
Coal has accounted for lower than 1% of UK era in recent times although Ratcliffe was in use on Monday, offering 0.7% of the nation’s electrical energy.
It has been producing energy since 1968 and will present sufficient electrical energy for 2 million properties.
It employs 170 workers.
Most might be stored on through the two-year decommissioning course of.
Dhara Vyas, deputy chief government of trade physique Vitality UK, mentioned: “Ten years ago, coal was the leading source of this country’s power – generating a third of our electricity.
“So, to get so far only a decade later, with coal’s contribution changed by clear and low carbon sources, is an unimaginable achievement.
“As we aim for further ambitious targets in the energy transition, it’s worth remembering that few back then thought such a change at such a pace was possible.”
The Labour authorities is looking for to hit web zero emissions from electrical energy era by 2030.
Please use Chrome browser for a extra accessible video participant
8:25
What’s GB Vitality and what’s going to it do?
Its efforts thus far have included a lifting of the de facto ban on onshore wind farms.
Vitality minister Michael Shanks mentioned: “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 period of coal may be ending, however a brand new age of fine vitality jobs for our nation is simply starting. The federal government’s clear vitality superpower mission is about creating good jobs in wind energy and new applied sciences like carbon seize 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.”
