The UK is closing its last coal-fired power station

England’s last coal-fired power station Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power StationThe shutdown of operations on Monday marks a historic milestone and the end of 140 years of reliance on coal as a source of electricity in the country. With this, the United Kingdom becomes the first major global economy to completely phase out coal from its energy mix.

Opened in 1967, the plant was vital to the supply of energy capable of supplying two million homes.

In its history, Ratcliffe-on-Soar has generated enough electricity to make 21 trillion cups of tea, playing a vital role in keeping the country’s lights on.

Plant manager Peter O’Grady expressed his pride, saying, “We never envisioned a future without coal generation.” He celebrated the UK’s transition to clean energy.

The plant has been closed in line with the British government’s ambitions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.

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The UK is the first country in the G7 to completely phase out coal

• Coal is considered to be the most environmentally damaging fossil fuel.
• The reason is that coal is capable of emitting more carbon dioxide than oil or gas and contributes to air pollution.
• With 13 countries already phasing out coal, the UK is the first of the G7 economies.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks commented that the era of coal is coming to an end, but a new era of renewable energy jobs is dawning. He highlighted that workers in this sector can be proud of their legacy of more than a century.

Holborn Viaduct, England’s first coal-fired power station, began operating in 1882, generating electricity for 1,000 lights in London. Since then, the technology for coal-fired power generation has remained largely unchanged, including burning coal to heat water, produce steam, and turn turbines.

The UK’s transition represents not only an important step in the fight against climate change, but also a new chapter in the quest for a more sustainable future.