The UK is set to close the doors on its last coal-fired power plant, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, at the end of September 2024, signalling a historic end to an era of coal-powered electricity that has spanned nearly 60 years. Located in the East Midlands near Nottingham, the plant has been a landmark on the landscape and a critical energy provider for decades. Its closure marks a bold step in the UK’s transition towards green energy, as the country aims to decarbonize its electricity supply by 2030.
For many in the region, the plant has been a constant presence. At its peak, coal was central to British life, fuelling the Industrial Revolution and providing energy well into the 20th century. In the 1980s, coal accounted for 70% of the UK's electricity generation. However, over the past decade, the country has rapidly reduced its dependence on coal. By 2013, coal made up 38% of the energy mix, and by 2023, it had fallen to just 1%.
The UK's push to phase out coal was spurred by the 2015 announcement by the Conservative government that all coal-fired power stations would close by 2025. The shift to cleaner energy sources like natural gas, wind, and nuclear has driven down the share of coal in the energy mix. In 2023, natural gas provided one-third of the UK’s electricity, while wind power accounted for 25%, and nuclear energy made up 13%.
The closure of Ratcliffe-on-Soar, which could once power up to 2 million homes, comes at a time when the plant has been operating only intermittently, mostly during periods of extreme weather that caused spikes in electricity demand. Its last delivery of coal earlier this summer supplied just enough energy for 500,000 homes for eight hours.
The closure aligns with the UK’s broader green energy strategy, championed by the recently elected Labour government. The government has launched an ambitious plan to invest in renewable energy sources like offshore wind, tidal power, and nuclear energy, aiming to make Britain a global leader in clean energy production.
While Ratcliffe-on-Soar's closure represents the end of an era, it also marks the beginning of a new chapter. The plant's German owner, Uniper, has announced plans to transform the site into a "carbon-free technology and energy hub" by the end of the decade. The UK’s bold move away from coal makes it the first G7 nation to fully phase out coal-powered electricity, setting a precedent for other countries. Italy plans to follow suit by 2025, France by 2027, and Canada by 2030, while Germany is targeting 2038.
For Britain, the closing of Ratcliffe-on-Soar is a symbolic and strategic milestone in its journey to a more sustainable future.
