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Country becomes first G7 nation to end reliance on the fossil fuel The UK has become the first G7 nation to end coal-fired power generation as it closed its last plant at Ratcliffe-on-Soar, in Nottinghamshire, England. The move ends the country’s 142-year reliance on fossil fuel and paves the way for it to reduces its contribution to fossil fuels, said sources in the renewables industry. The Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station began generating power in 1968 and had a total generating capacity of 2.116GW. By 1981 the station was burning 5.5 million tonnes of coal a year and was consuming 65% of the output of south Nottinghamshires coal mines. Minister for Energy Michael Shanks said: “Today’s closure at Ratcliffe 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. The government’s clean energy superpower mission is about creating good jobs in wind power and new technologies like carbon capture and storage. “That work is helping boost our energy security and independence, protecting families from international hikes in the price of fossil fuels and with it, creating jobs and tackling climate change.” The owner of the power station Uniper announced in 2023 it had received the green light to redevelop the site from Rushcliffe Borough Council, which adopted a Local Development Order for plant. “Once fully occupied, the redeveloped site has the potential to create between 7000 and 8000 jobs based around low carbon energy generation and advanced manufacturing, supporting continued economic growth, and helping to meet the region’s decarbonisation goals,” said Uniper. |
