On September 30, the UK is set to close its last coal-fired power station, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, ending over 140 years of coal-based electricity generation. This move makes the UK the first G7 country to halt traditional coal-fired power.
The Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station, which has been serving central England for nearly 60 years, is capable of supplying electricity to 2 million homes. However, due to shifts in UK energy policy, the station has operated only during anticipated peak demand periods, such as the 2022 cold snap or the 2023 heatwave. Its final supply operation was earlier this summer.
From October, the station will enter a two-year decommissioning phase. The 350 employees and on-site contractors of its parent company, Uniper, will either transition to new roles within the company or leave by the end of 2026. The coal plant will be replaced by a new project called the "Zero Carbon Technology and Energy Centre."
