The Guardian | UK’s 142-year history of coal-fired electricity ends as turbines at Ratcliffe-on-Soar plant in Nottinghamshire stop for good.
Last Monday, the last coal-fired power plant in the UK was shut down. Coal power made up 80% of the UK’s electricity in the early 1980s, and 40% in 2012, before petering out in the last decade due to costly carbon taxes and the rise of cheaper renewables.
The closure aligns with the UK’s commitment to phase out coal by 2024, part of its broader climate leadership. Green campaigners view the shutdown as a major achievement in reducing carbon emissions.
Once a key energy source, coal’s role in UK electricity has declined sharply due to rising carbon taxes and cheaper renewables. The plant’s staff are transitioning to new roles or decommissioning work, highlighting a shift toward cleaner energy sources.
This landmark demonstrates that fossil fuels can be replaced with clean energy.
If renewables continue to increase at the same exponential rate, gas and oil will be replaced by clean energy as well, first in electricity generation and later in other energy sources.
Read the the full story in the Guardian
