UK shuts down last coal-fired power plant, pioneering coal-free future

The UK will close its last coal-fired power plant, the Ratcliffe-on-Soar facility in Nottinghamshire, marking the end of 142 years of coal-powered electricity, Energy Terminal said today.

This move makes the UK the first G7 nation to phase out coal in its electricity generation. The plant, which has been operating for 57 years, will be decommissioned over the next two years with around 100 employees involved in the process.

According to reports, the UK has dramatically reduced its reliance on coal, with its share in electricity generation dropping from 39% in 2012 to just 2% in 2019.

The country’s energy mix has shifted toward renewables like solar and wind, and the UK remains committed to achieving carbon-free electricity by 2030.