Britain’s last coal-fired power station, Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power StationIt ceased operations on Monday, marking a historic milestone and ending 140 years of dependence on coal as a source of power in the country. With this, the United Kingdom has become the first major global economy to completely eliminate coal from its energy mix.
Opened in 1967, the plant was essential for the supply of energy, with the capacity to supply two million homes.
Over its history, Ratcliffe-on-Soar has generated enough electricity to brew more than 21 trillion cups of tea, playing a vital role in keeping the country’s lights on.
Plant manager Peter O’Grady expressed his pride, saying “we never imagined a future without coal generation”. He celebrated the UK’s transition to clean energy.
The closure of the plant is in line with the British government’s ambitions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions to zero by 2050.
Read more:
Coal is a fossil fuel that is more harmful to the planet than gas or oil – Image: Rudmar Zwerver/Shutterstock
Britain is the first among the G7 to completely phase out coal.
Coal is considered the most environmentally harmful fossil fuel.
This is because coal is capable of releasing more carbon dioxide and contributing to air pollution than oil or gas.
While 13 countries have already phased out coal, Britain is the first among the G7 economies to do so.
Energy Minister Michael Shanks commented that the coal era is ending, but a new era of renewable energy jobs is beginning. He highlighted that workers in this sector can be proud of their heritage spanning more than a century.
Britain’s first coal-fired power station, Holborn Viaduct, became operational in 1882, generating electricity for 1,000 lamps in London. Since then, the technology for producing electricity from coal has remained largely unchanged, involving burning coal to heat water, generate steam, and turn turbines.
The UK’s transition is not only an important step in the fight against climate change, but also a new chapter in the quest for a more sustainable future.
The United Kingdom has made significant progress in its goal of prioritizing clean energy – Image: Ian Francis/Shutterstock
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