Britain Marks Historic End of Coal-Fired Power with Uniper Plant Closure

Britain will become the first G7 country to end coal-fired power production by closing its last coal plant, Uniper’s Ratcliffe-on-Soar. This historic move concludes over 140 years of coal power in Britain and significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions. The UK aims for net zero emissions by 2050.

Britain is set to become the first G7 nation to end coal-fired power production on Monday with the closure of its last plant, Uniper’s Ratcliffe-on-Soar, located in the Midlands.

This closure marks the end of more than 140 years of coal power in the country. In 2015, Britain announced plans to phase out coal plants within the next decade as part of broader climate targets. At that time, coal accounted for nearly 30% of Britain’s electricity, a figure that had fallen to just over 1% last year.

“The UK has shown that phasing out coal power at an unprecedented rate is achievable,” said Julia Skorupska, Head of the Powering Past Coal Alliance secretariat. The reduction in coal use has significantly cut Britain's greenhouse gas emissions, which have more than halved since 1990.

Britain is also targeting net zero emissions by 2050 and aims to decarbonize its electricity sector by 2030, necessitating rapid expansion of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. “The age of coal may be ending, but a new era of good energy jobs for our country is just beginning,” stated energy minister Michael Shanks.

Energy emissions contribute to around three-quarters of total greenhouse gas emissions. Scientists emphasize that curbing fossil fuel usage is essential to meet the goals of the Paris climate agreement. In April, the G7 major industrialized countries committed to eliminating coal power in the first half of the next decade but allowed flexibility for coal-dependent economies, a move criticized by environmental groups.

“Much work remains to meet and potentially advance the 2035 target to 2030, particularly in Japan, the U.S., and Germany,” commented Christine Shearer, Research Analyst at Global Energy Monitor. Coal power still constitutes more than 25% of Germany's electricity and over 30% of Japan’s power.

(Reporting By Susanna Twidale; editing by Mark Heinrich)