UK Becomes First G7 Nation to End Coal Energy After 142 Years

The United Kingdom has made a significant leap in its energy transition by shutting down its last coal power plant, Ratcliffe-on-Soar. This step marks the end of 142 years of coal-powered energy production in the country, making the UK the first of the G7 nations to eliminate coal from its energy mix.

"A New Era of Clean Energy Begins"

Julia Skorupska, head of the Secretariat for the Powering Past Coal Alliance, praised the move, stating, "The UK has shown that it is possible to phase out coal energy at an unprecedented pace." She emphasized that the decision highlights how rapidly coal-dependent nations can transition to cleaner energy sources.

UK Energy Minister Michael Shanks also welcomed the closure, remarking, "The coal era is over, but a new era of good energy jobs for our nation is just beginning. We owe a debt of gratitude to generations who powered our nation."

A Planned Transition

The UK had announced plans to close all coal-fired power plants back in 2015 as part of its broader climate goals. At the time, nearly 30% of the country's electricity came from coal. Since then, that figure has drastically reduced, dropping to just 1% in the past year.

The decline in coal usage has been instrumental in the UK's efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, which have fallen by more than half since 1990. This marks a major step towards the UK’s broader environmental objectives.

Ambitious Climate Goals

The UK is striving to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2050. In addition to eliminating coal energy, the government has set a target to fully decarbonize its electricity supply by 2030. The closure of coal plants has been crucial in advancing these goals, as the nation continues to invest in renewable energy sources such as wind and solar.

Despite the UK's success in moving away from coal, other major economies remain heavily reliant on it. Coal still provides over 25% of Germany's electricity and at least 30% of Japan's.

The UK's bold step in shutting down its final coal plant signals not only the end of an era but also the beginning of a new phase in the global energy transition.