The UK has officially closed the chapter on its 142-year history of coal-fired power generation, marking a historic milestone in the global transition towards renewable energy.
As of September 30, 2024, the nation decommissioned its last coal power plant, becoming the first G7 country to eliminate coal from its energy mix.
This shift, taking place in the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution, emphasizes the UK’s commitment to cleaner energy sources like solar and wind, which are now at the forefront of its energy strategy.
The Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries have collectively reduced coal generation by 52% since its peak in 2007, with renewable energy being the driving force behind this decline.
According to a report from Ember, an energy think tank, 87% of the reduction in coal usage during this period can be attributed to solar and wind energy. The UK now joins 13 other OECD countries that have phased out coal, with the remaining nations aiming for a full phase-out by 2030.
Once a dominant energy source, coal’s role in the UK’s energy mix has steadily diminished over the years. In 2012, coal accounted for 40% of electricity generation, but by 2019, this figure had dropped to just 2%.
With the closure of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in Nottinghamshire, the UK has completed its transition away from coal, symbolizing the end of an era and the rise of clean energy to drive future industrial growth.
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