United Kingdom: Pioneer in the elimination of coal for electricity generation

The United Kingdom marked a turning point in the history of energy by becoming the first country among major economies to eliminate coal in electricity generation. This milestone is the result of an energy transition process that lasted more than a decade, during which the use of this fossil fuel has been replaced by renewable energy sources, such as wind and solar.

The use of coal fueled the Industrial Revolution in the United Kingdom, powering the country’s economy for more than a century. The first coal-burning power station for electricity was opened in London in 1882. Throughout the 135th century, coal provided the country’s primary source of electricity. However, environmental policies and growing concerns about climate change have forced nations to look for clean alternatives to reduce carbon emissions. Incredibly, XNUMX years after coal began its journey, the country has completely eliminated it from electricity generation.

A day without coal in the UK: beginning of the end

One of the most significant events in this transition to renewable energy occurred in April 2017, when, for the first time since the Industrial Revolution, the UK went a full day without burning a single kilogram of coal to generate electricity. Between 23pm on Thursday and 00pm on Friday, West Burton 23 power station, the only coal-fired power plant operating at the time, stopped supplying electricity to the national grid.

While this was not the final end to coal, it was celebrated as a milestone by environmental activists. The symbolic day demonstrated that a large economy like Britain's could function without using fossil fuels, marking the beginning of an era of change towards a future with less dependence on polluting sources.

The date was significant because it occurred in spring, a period when energy demand tends to decline. Moderate temperatures reduce the need for heating and air conditioning, and industrial demand is also typically lower due to the holidays. All of this allowed energy to be generated from alternative sources such as natural gas, wind and solar energy.

Energy transition: from coal to renewables

In 2015, the British government announced its intention to phase out coal by 2025. Since then, the country has made considerable progress in transitioning to clean energy sources. In 2012, coal still generated 40% of the country’s electricity, but by 2017, its contribution had fallen to 9%. Much of this energy was progressively replaced by solar, wind and biomass power.

By the early 2020s, the UK had already closed two-thirds of its installed coal capacity, enabling a significant reduction in carbon dioxide emissions. Gas-fired plants supplied 47% of electricity, with wind and solar contributing a growing share.

The role of wind energy has been instrumental in reducing the country's emissions. Between 2012 and 2023, wind power grew by 315%, contributing significantly to electricity production. Together with solar energy, these renewable sources displaced millions of tons of coal and avoided significant fuel costs.

Last coal-fired power plant closes: Ratcliffe-on-Soar

30 September 2024 marked the final closure of Ratcliffe-on-Soar, a plant in Nottinghamshire that had been operational since 1968. With a capacity of two gigawatts, Ratcliffe supplied more than two million homes at its peak. However, with the increasing use of renewables and declining demand for coal-fired power, the plant closed operations. This event made the UK the first major G7 economy to completely phase out coal from its electricity system.

The closure of Ratcliffe also had a strong symbolic component, as Britain was the country that led the Industrial Revolution, a process that was fuelled mainly by coal. In this sense, ending its dependence on coal also represents the end of an economic and social era.

According to an analysis by Ember, UK electricity sector emissions have fallen by 2012% since 74. In this period, the combination of solar and wind energy was the main factor enabling emissions reductions.

Lessons for the future: challenges and next steps

While the UK has achieved an important milestone, there is still much work to be done to achieve carbon neutrality by 2030. Although renewables already account for more than half of the country's electricity generation, natural gas still supplies a significant amount of electricity.

Environmental organisations such as Greenpeace and Friends of the Earth have urged the British government to focus on phasing out natural gas and to continue investing in clean energy. These organisations have also pointed to the need to provide a just transition for workers who depended on the coal industries.

The development of new technologies, such as carbon capture and storage and green hydrogen, will be key to the UK meeting its climate goals. The closure of Ratcliffe is just one step on the ladder to full decarbonisation.

This process also opens the door to job creation in the renewable energy sector, allowing the British economy to continue to grow while reducing environmental impact.

The end of the coal era in the UK marks the beginning of a new era in which clean energy will take centre stage. This is a step towards a more sustainable future, in which carbon emissions will be a thing of the past and technological innovation in the field of energy will be promoted.