The United Kingdom has reached a historic milestone by becoming the first G7 country to officially eliminate coal power, bringing an end to a 142-year era. The last operational coal-fired power plant, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, located in Nottingham, closed its doors at midnight yesterday after half a century of converting coal into electricity.

This closure is a crucial step in the UK's plan to generate all its energy from renewable sources by 2030. Opened in 1968, the Ratcliffe-on-Soar plant was one of the most iconic in the country, and its closure symbolizes the end of an era for British energy. Moreover, this milestone will set an energy precedent for the other G7 countries on their path toward decarbonization.

Coal has been an essential part of the UK's energy history since 1882 when the first coal-fired power plant was opened in London's Holborn Viaduct. Since then, the country's coal plants have burned 4.6 billion tons of coal, emitting 10.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide (CO2), which has had a profound impact on the environment. According to Carbon Brief's analysis, these emissions exceed those produced by most countries throughout their entire history.

International and national impact

The elimination of coal is not only an achievement for the UK but also signals an international shift toward cleaner energy sources. The reduction in coal demand, now at levels not seen since the 17th century, will be key in global efforts against climate change.

Energy Minister Michael Shanks said the plant’s closure “marks the end of an era and coal workers can be rightly proud of their work powering our country for over 140 years. We owe generations a debt of gratitude as a country.”

“The era of coal might be ending, but a new age of good energy jobs for our country is just beginning,” Shanks  said.

This move will contribute to a significant reduction in carbon emissions from the electricity sector, which have fallen by 74% in the last 12 years, according to the report "The UK's Journey to a Coal Power Phase-Out" by Ember. In 2012, coal accounted for nearly 40% of the UK's electricity generation. However, this share dropped to 2% in 2020, finally reaching zero in October 2024. In absolute terms, the UK generated 143 TWh of electricity from coal in 2012, equivalent to Sweden's total electricity demand in 2023.

Source: EMBER

A new era without coal

With this milestone, the UK continues to lead decarbonization efforts among the world's major economies. The closure of the Ratcliffe plant not only reinforces the country's commitment to reducing emissions but also marks the beginning of a new era of renewable energy as the UK moves toward its ambitious goal of 100% clean energy supply by the end of the decade.