UK closes its last coal-fired power station, marking the end of a 142-year era

The UK shut down its last coal-fired power station, Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire, on September 30, 2024, marking a historic shift towards renewable energy. The Uniper-owned plant, which was “desynced” from the grid system shortly after 3 pm, ends the country’s 142-year reliance on coal for electricity production.

Since 1882, when the UK became the first nation to use coal for public power generation, coal has played a pivotal role in its energy supply. However, coal’s share in the UK’s energy mix has dramatically declined from 80% in 1990 to less than 1% in recent years. In its final hours of operation, Ratcliffe provided 0.7% of the country’s electricity. The plant, which employed 170 staff, will undergo a two-year decommissioning process, with most employees retained for this period.

Coal’s phase-out is part of the UK’s broader efforts to combat climate change, with the Labour government targeting net zero emissions from electricity generation by 2030. The shift has been driven by increased reliance on renewable energy sources like solar and offshore wind, although the transition has coincided with rising industrial power prices. Despite this, the UK is the first G7 country to end coal use for electricity generation.