29 September 2024
The UK Exits Coal Power, Ushering in Era of Renewables
LONDON, 30 SEPTEMBER, 2024 – Today, the UK’s last coal-fired power plant, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, will close, marking the end of coal-generated electricity in the nation that sparked the Industrial Revolution. As recently as 2012, the UK— the world’s sixth-largest economy—burned coal to generate nearly 40% of its electricity [1]. Today, that figure reaches zero thanks to widespread support for climate action and a surge in renewable energy.
During this period, wind and solar have risen from providing just 6% to 34% of the UK’s electricity, while fossil gas generation has dipped compared to 2012. Wind now produces enough electricity to power 92% of the UK’s 28 million homes [2]. As part of its plan to decarbonise power generation by 2030, the UK government aims to double onshore wind, triple solar power, and quadruple offshore wind by the end of the decade [3].
In 2015, the UK became the first country in the world to announce a coal phase-out [4], setting a powerful precedent that has inspired global climate action. Since then, 22 European nations have committed to do the same [5].
Alexandru Mustață, Campaigner at Beyond Fossil Fuels, said:
“The closure of the UK’s last coal power plant is a victory for renewable energy and all who fought to end coal power. Coal hasn’t simply faded away—the UK has actively replaced it with healthier, cheaper, more secure renewable alternatives. European countries still burning coal should take heed: with strong action against polluters, engaged civil society, and cross-party political consensus, a swift and just transition to a secure and affordable renewables-based power system is well within reach.”
Dave Jones, Insights Director at global energy think tank, Ember, said:
“The renewables revolution is gathering pace around the world, and renewables will soon overtake coal as the single biggest source of global electricity. Once, coal power was a byword for industrial growth, now clean energy is driving economies.”
Pieter de Pous, Programme leader in E3G’s Coal to Clean Programme, said:
“The UK was the first country in the world to start burning coal for power and is now among the first to stop doing so, joining a growing group of coal-free countries in Europe including Belgium, Sweden, Austria, and Portugal. The same combination of carrots and sticks that has brought the UK to this historical moment is continuing to replace coal—and increasingly fossil gas—with renewables across Europe, bringing fossil-free power by 2035 within reach. EU leaders should join forces with the UK’s newly launched Global Clean Power Alliance to make fossil-free power a core contribution to the global energy consensus of tripling renewables, doubling efficiency and transitioning away from fossil fuels.”
Julia Skorupska, Head of Powering Past Coal Alliance secretariat, said:
“The UK has proven that it is possible to phase-out coal power at unprecedented speed. One third of all countries have committed to do the same when they joined the Powering Past Coal Alliance (PPCA). Others will need to step up their efforts—but they don’t have to do it alone. The PPCA brings together governments, financial institutions and companies to help countries phase-out coal and reap the benefits of the clean energy transition. We need to see ambitious new commitments as countries develop their new NDCs.”
Daniel Therkelsen, Campaign Manager at Coal Action Network, said:
“This historic moment is a win for both climate activists and local people who spent countless hours and risked their freedom campaigning to close the coal-fired power stations poisoning the air they breathe and trashing the climate we all rely upon. But the spectre of coal still looms with the UK continuing to mine and export coal abroad. In 2023 alone, UK exports of coal generated around 1.8 million tonnes of CO2. If we can understand the climate and health imperative of phasing-out coal at home, it’s only consistent that we also stop exporting it abroad.”
END
Contacts:
Alastair Clewer, Senior Communications Manager, Beyond Fossil Fuels, [email protected], +4917643307185
Alexandru Mustață, Campaigner, Beyond Fossil Fuels, Alexandru.Mustață@bff.earth, +40 741 926 908
Notes:
- According to global energy think tank Ember, the UK generated 39.24% of its electricity from coal in 2012: https://ember-climate.org/data/data-tools/data-explorer/
- https://www.edie.net/tremendous-success-uk-reaches-30gw-wind-power-milestone/
- https://labour.org.uk/change/make-britain-a-clean-energy-superpower/
- https://www.bbc.com/news/business-34851718
- https://archive.beyondfossilfuels.org/europes-coal-exit/
About:
Beyond Fossil Fuels is a collective civil society campaign committed to ensuring all of Europe’s electricity is generated from fossil-free, renewable energy by 2035. It expands and builds upon the Europe Beyond Coal campaign, and its goal of a coal-free Europe in power and heat by 2030 at the latest. www.beyondfossilfuels.org