With this move, the UK has ended its 142-year coal-fired power history, which is a significant and symbolic milestone in the global transition to greener energy.

The UK became the first G7 nation to completely remove coal from its energy mix on September 30, 2024, when the country’s final coal-fired power station was shut down.

at addition to marking the end of an era, this transition, which takes place at the centre of the Industrial Revolution, strengthens the worldwide trend towards renewable energy sources and puts solar and wind power at the forefront of the future.

Due to the growth of solar and wind energy, the nations that make up the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development have cut their coal generation in half since 2007 when it peaked.

The energy think tank Ember said in a paper that was made public on Monday that the production of coal in OECD nations had decreased by 52% from its 2007 peak. Renewable energy sources have been largely blamed for this sharp reduction. Dave Jones, Director of Ember’s Global Insights Program, stated that 87% of the decline of coal during this time was caused by wind and solar power.

The UK is the 14th OECD nation to achieve a coal-free power grid, with the other member countries aiming for a complete phase-out by 2030, according to the research.

For many years, coal’s share in the UK energy mix has been declining. Coal accounted for 40% of the electricity generated in the UK in 2012; by 2019, that percentage had plummeted to barely 2%, and it is now zero.

Jones emphasised the importance of this change by saying, “Coal power was once synonymous with industrial expansion.” Clean energy is now being used to propel industrial expansion.
As to Sky News, the UK has become the first country in the G7 to stop using coal-fired power.

The nation has been using coal to produce energy since 1882, but as capacity from clean alternatives has enabled it, the final working plant, located in Nottinghamshire, is being shut down.

In the midst of the switch to renewable energy, the last coal-fired power plant in the UK will close later on Monday.

The 142-year history of burning fossil fuels in the nation to produce energy will come to an end with the shutdown of the Uniper-owned Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in Nottinghamshire, according to the agency.

Worldwide Transition

The global shift towards renewable energy in emerging nations is reflected in the reduction of coal in OECD countries. Some nations, nevertheless, have not yet experienced sharp drops.

“Türkiye was the only OECD country to set a new coal power record in 2023,” according to Ember’s study.

In the meantime, the use of coal has decreased only little in countries like South Korea and Japan.

The general trend is evident despite these anomalies: according to Ember, “Three-quarters of OECD countries are targeting a coal phase-out by 2030.”

Future Renewable Energy

Renewable energy sources are replacing coal as the main energy source. Jones made reference to the rise in electric vehicles and heat pumps across OECD countries. “The rapid growth of wind and solar energy is not only replacing coal but also preparing to meet the increase in electricity demand,” Jones added.

The closing of the last coal plant in the UK marks a significant turning point in the global transition to greener energy. Coal’s era as the primary energy source is rapidly ending, as renewable energy sources like solar and wind will power the future.

This was also verified by the Energy and Climate Intelligence Unit on Monday in an X post.

“The final coal-fired power plant in Britain closes, marking the end of an era. The 142-year-old Ratcliffe-on-Soar plant’s turbines shut down, ending the UK’s reliance on coal for power.

ECIU UK tweeted, “Nottinghamshire stop for good.”

Ember is an energy think tank that uses data and policy to expedite the shift to sustainable energy, according to PUNCH Online. Sandbag Climate Campaign CIC, a Community Interest Company with England & Wales registration number 06714443, trades under the name Ember. Trademarks “Ember” and “Sandbag” are registered with the Intellectual Property Offices of the United Kingdom and the European Union.

Clean and Renewable Energy
In the meantime, the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Germany, France, Italy, and Japan are the seven most advanced economies in the world and make up the G7 (Group of Seven), an intergovernmental body. It convenes once a year to talk about international security, trade, climate change, and other worldwide concerns as well as global economic difficulties.

A move away from fossil fuels and towards energy systems predominantly driven by renewable resources including solar, wind, and hydropower is referred to as a “renewable future.” It stands for a viable way to cut carbon emissions, fight climate change, and guarantee economies’ long-term energy independence.

Similarly, clean energy comes from sources like solar, wind, hydro, and geothermal energy that don’t release any greenhouse gases or pollutants. It is essential for lessening the impact on the environment, encouraging sustainability, and assisting international efforts to move towards a low-carbon economy.