The UK closes it's last coal-power station - what's next for the future of energy production in UK?

Today, we say farewell and thank you to Ratcliffe-on-Soar Coal Power Station, marking a monumental turning point in the UK's history of energy production.

The Coal Power station in Nottingham, which has been burning fossil fuels since 1967, finishes operations, turning the final page on a chapter in British energy production lasting 142 years.

As the birthplace of coal power generation, the UK economy and our position on the world stage owes a debt of gratitude to the opportunities that coal power generation has offered us since the first coal-power station fired up in London in 1882, built by Thomas Edison.

Coal power was the roaring heart of the Victorian industrial revolution, and in 2024 the UK is yet again leading the net-zero revolution, becoming the first country in the G7 to phase out coal power generation.

We must now capitalise on this opportunity and make meaningful steps towards transitioning to a more sustainable energy landscape that leaves little to no impact on the planet for the next generation.

The next chapter in Energy production for the UK

Looking ahead to the next chapter of energy production across the UK, low-carbon energy sources like hydrogen, wind, solar, and tidal must continue to expand.

In the early 1900s, coal power accounted for upwards of 95% of the UK’s electricity generation. Two years ago, that figure had fallen to ~1%.

While gas has replaced some of the capacity lost by the phasing out of coal, renewable energy sources have risen to the challenge, representing over 40% of the UK's energy mix, with the remainder being made up of nuclear and biomass power.

Minister for Energy Michael Shanks said: “The era of coal might be ending, but a new age of good energy jobs for our country is just beginning."

With the most ambitious regional Net Zero targets in the country in Manchester (2038) and Liverpool (2040), the North West of England is already beginning to reap the benefits of making industrial decarbonisation a priority. Massive investments are being made in setting up renewable and low-carbon energy projects across our region, like the Mersey Tidal Power Project, Protos and HyNet North West.

As well as spearheading the technological advancements necessary to achieve industrial decarbonisation, we also emphasise the need to make green skills training a focus for educators, employers and apprenticeship providers, to ensure we have the home grown talent to help deliver industrial decarbonisation at scale. We must ensure that the transition to a sustainable energy landscape is beneficial to the people and communities in which these projects are being built.

Making big strides, such as being the first G7 country to phase out coal power, is a welcome step towards our Net Zero goals, but there is still work to be done.

At Net Zero North West, we will continue to push the government to extend their commitments to reach Net Zero by 2050. We will encourage more public and private investment into the people, projects and places that will push the UK as a world leader in industrial decarbonisation.