By the end of this month, the UK will bid farewell to the era of coal-fired power as the last remaining coal power station, Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire, is set to shut down on September 30. This closure marks the end of an era for the UK, which has been committed to phasing out coal in pursuit of its climate targets.
The End of an Era
The coal-fired power station, which first began operations in 1967, received its last batch of coal this June. According to Uniper, the company that owns the station, the 2000-megawatt plant has been providing enough electricity to power approximately two million homes. Over its decades of operation, the plant has produced enough energy to brew over 21 trillion cups of tea, which averages about one billion cups per day.
Transition to Low-carbon Energy
Despite the closure, the plant will require two more years to be fully decommissioned, during which 125 employees will be retained. Last year, Uniper announced plans to repurpose the site for the production of hydrogen, rather than coal-fired power. Unlike fossil fuels, hydrogen does not produce carbon dioxide emissions when burned, which contribute to global warming.
However, it is important to note that most hydrogen is currently produced through a process called methane steam reforming, which still emits greenhouse gases. A cleaner method of producing hydrogen is through electrolysis, which uses renewable energy to split water molecules. Uniper has expressed interest in producing hydrogen through electrolysis at the former coal plant, aiming to reach a capacity of 500 megawatts by the end of this decade. The company stated that the redevelopment of the site to produce low-carbon energy could create up to 8000 jobs.
A Historical Shift
In 1882, the world’s first coal-fired power station was built in London, marking the beginning of the use of coal for electricity generation. By 1900, coal accounted for over 95% of the UK’s energy needs. Since the Industrial Revolution, global carbon dioxide emissions have surged, with a 182-fold increase from 1850 to 2022.
Considering both domestic pollution and the emissions from territories controlled by the UK during its colonial rule, the country’s historical carbon footprint exceeds that of any other nation except the United States, China, and Russia.
The Global Context
Coal still accounts for over one-third of the global power mix, with both its electricity generation and greenhouse gas emissions surpassing those of any other fuel. However, since 2012, the UK has seen a significant decline in coal-fired power generation. By 2023, the proportion of coal in the UK’s electricity mix has dropped from nearly 40% to just 1%, thanks to the increasing use of wind and solar power. Consequently, greenhouse gas emissions from the electricity sector have fallen by 74% over the same period.
Commitment to Climate Targets
In 2008, the UK passed the Climate Change Act, which set a target for the country to achieve net-zero carbon dioxide emissions by 2050, necessitating the phasing out of coal. According to the climate change think tank E3G, once Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station closes, the UK will become the first developed economy and G7 nation to completely phase out coal power.
The closure of Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station is a significant milestone in the UK’s journey towards a low-carbon future. As the country continues to invest in renewable energy sources and innovative technologies like hydrogen production, it takes a crucial step forward in addressing the global climate crisis and fulfilling its commitment to a sustainable future.
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