U.K. Shuts Last Coal-Fired Power Plant

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Written by Martin Lynch, European News Editor for Industrial Info (Galway, Ireland)--The U.K. has closed the book on coal-fired power with the shutting down of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar plant in Nottinghamshire.

Owned by Uniper (Dusseldorf, Germany), the last remaining coal-fired plant shut its turbines for good last week after 57 years of operation. With a capacity of 2,000 megawatts (MW), it produced enough power for two million homes. It marks the end of an era for coal-fired power in the U.K. which built the world's first coal-fired plant--the Holborn Viaduct power station--in 1882. At its peak, the plant employed 3,000 people, but today that number is 170, many of whom will remain during the plant's two-year decommissioning process. Although not the first in Europe, the U.K. is the first of the G7 nations to quit coal, having set a target of 2025 almost a decade ago. Industrial Info is tracking Uniper's plans to construct a 50-megawatt (MW) energy-from-waste (EfW) power plant on the site that will be capable of burning 500,000 tonnes per year of non-recyclable industrial and municipal waste. Subscribers to Industrial Info's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) Project Database can click here for the report.

"For me, Ratcliffe has always been more than just a power station--it has been a pillar of the U.K.'s energy security for decades," said Michael Lewis, chief executive officer, Uniper. "Built during a time when coal was the backbone of industrial progress, Ratcliffe powered over two million homes and businesses--equivalent to the entire East Midlands region. It played a crucial role in boosting economic growth and supporting the livelihoods of thousands of people. This will be the first time since 1882 that coal has not powered Great Britain. As we close this chapter, we honor Ratcliffe's legacy and the people working here, while embracing the future of cleaner and flexible energy. In this context, Uniper aims to invest in technologies like CCS, renewables and hydrogen. The goal is to decarbonise our remaining power assets and to deliver low carbon fuel as well as green and reliable energy to our customers."

U.K. Minister for Energy Michael Shanks commented: "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 U.K.'s shift away from coal has happened rapidly over the past decade. In 2012, it was the country's leading source of power, contributing 39% according to data from National Grid's Electricity System Operator. In the intervening period, 15 coal-fired plants have shut down or switched fuels and last year it accounted for 1% of the U.K.'s power supply. Dhara Vyas, deputy chief executive of the energy industry trade body, Energy U.K., told the media. "Ten years ago, coal was the leading source of this country's power--generating a third of our electricity. So, to get to this point just a decade later, with coal's contribution replaced by clean and low carbon sources, is an incredible achievement. As we aim for further ambitious targets in the energy transition, it's worth remembering that few back then thought such a change at such a pace was possible."

Industrial Info Resources (IIR) is the leading provider of industrial market intelligence. Since 1983, IIR has provided comprehensive research, news and analysis on the industrial process, manufacturing and energy related industries. IIR's Global Market Intelligence (GMI) helps companies identify and pursue trends across multiple markets with access to real, qualified and validated plant and project opportunities. Across the world, IIR is tracking over 200,000 current and future projects worth $17.8 Trillion (USD).