❌ Britain closes last coal-fired power station

• The UK will close its last coal-fired power station in October 2024, ending a 142-year era.
• The share of coal power in electricity generation has declined from 40% in 2012 to zero in 2024, one of the fastest energy transitions in the world.
• Renewables now account for almost 50% of the UK's electricity supply, up from just 7% in 2010.

A historical change

Britain's last coal-fired power station, Radcliffe-on-Shore in Nottinghamshire will be closed In October 2024. It marks the end of a 142-year era of coal-based power generation in the country that was once the epicenter of the Industrial Revolution.

The UK will become the first major economy and G7 member to phase out coal-fired power entirely. Over the years, the nation's coal-fired power plants have burned nearly 4.6 billion tons of coal and produced 10.4 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions — more than most countries' combined historical emissions from all sources.

Rapid phase-out of coal and expansion of renewables

The share of coal power in the UK's electricity generation has fallen sharply over a decade. From 40% of electricity generation in 2012, it will decrease to 1.8% in 2020 and reach zero in 2024. At the same time, the share of renewable electricity has increased significantly. In 2010, renewable energy sources accounted for only 7% of electricity generation. Projections for 2024 indicate that around 50% of the UK's electricity supply will be from renewables.

This rapid change was made possible by a combination of political decisions, economic incentives and technological advances. Key factors include emissions trading and carbon dioxide prices that have made coal power less profitable, tougher rules on air pollution, government support for renewable energy expansion and falling costs for wind and solar power.

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