Last Monday, the 30th of September 2024, marked a major milestone in the history of the UK. The UK’s last remaining coal-fired power station, Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire, generated electricity for the final time. This makes the UK the first G7 nation to end its reliance on coal-power. This is a huge step towards achieving the net zero emissions target of 2050, although it cannot be forgotten how vital a role coal power played in our nation’s history. Coal powered the industrial revolution; the inventions from the industrial revolution are integral in society today. Since 1882, when the UK’s first coal station, London’s Holborn Viaduct, started generating electricity, the energy landscape in the UK has dramatically changed.
From the opening of Holborn Viaduct coal station and the closure of Ratcliffe-on-Soar, 142 years apart, UK coal plants have burnt through 4.6 billion tonnes of coal and emitted 10.4 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide. At the peak of coal generation, in the early 1980s, coal power made up 80% of the UK’s electricity. In 2012, coal still made up around 40% of total electricity generation. The “dash for gas” in the 1990s and more recently, the expansion of renewable energy generation, alleviated the need for coal power. This allowed for the UK to have its first “coal-free days” in 2017, a glimpse of what was to come with the complete removal of coal power from the UK electricity system.
This milestone has been achieved by the amazing progression that has been seen in the renewable energy industry. Solar power has grown exponentially over the past decade, from 1GW of capacity in 2013 to over 16GW of capacity in the UK, as of July 2024. The expansion of offshore wind farms in the North Sea, as well as onshore wind farms, has allowed the UK’s wind power capacity to surpass 30GW as of August 2024. Alongside this, the entrance of the Labour government will likely see much more wind power be built over the coming years as they lift restrictions on building new onshore wind sites in England. In the last 12 months, 43% of the UK’s electricity came from renewable sources, 30.4% of which came from wind power.
As we move away from baseload coal power, there will be a greater reliance on renewable energy sources for the UK’s power. Renewable Exchange can assist with this transition by helping to secure your Power Purchase Agreements and get the best price for your power. Register here to get your free PPA forecast or get in touch with our experts to discuss our services for optimising route to market at [email protected].
Click here to view the full UK Power Generation History infographic.
