List of active coal-fired power stations in the United Kingdom

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There are currently three active coal-fired power stations operating in the United Kingdom. They have a total generating capacity of 4.52GW.

Phase-out of coal in the United Kingdom[]

In November 2015, it was announced by the UK Government that all the remaining fourteen coal-fired power stations would be closed by 2025.[1] In February 2020 the UK government said that it would consult on bringing the closure date forward to 2024.[2][3] In June 2021, the government said it would end coal power by October 2024.[4]

Ironbridge ceased operations in late 2015. In 2016, three power stations closed at Rugeley, Ferrybridge and Longannet. Eggborough closed in 2018 and was granted consent to convert into a gas fired power station. Lynemouth power station converted to biomass in 2018 and Uskmouth is being converted to an energy from waste plant. Cottam and Aberthaw shut down operations in 2019,[5] Fiddlers Ferry closed in 2020[6] and Drax stopped burning coal in March 2021.[7]

The United Kingdom had continuously burned coal for the generation of electricity since the opening of Holborn Viaduct power station in 1882. On 21 April 2017, for the first time since 1882, the GB grid had a 24-hour period without any generation from coal power.[8] In May 2019 the GB grid went its first full week without any coal power.[9] In May 2020 the GB grid beat the previous record and did not use coal generation for over a month.[10]

At present, the use of coal power is decreasing to historic lows not seen since before the Industrial Revolution. Coal supplied 1.6% of UK electricity in 2020,[11] down from 30% in 2014.[12] In 2020, coal produced 4.4 TWh of electricity and Britain went 5,202 hours free from coal electricity generation, up from 3,665 hours in 2019 and 1,856 in 2018.[13]

List of active power stations[]

Name Location Owner Date Commissioned Planned Closure Date Total capacity (GW) Notes Image
West Burton A Nottinghamshire EDF Energy 1967[14] To be decommissioned from September 2022[15] 2.00 View from Upper Ings Lane - geograph.org.uk - 285251.jpg
Kilroot County Antrim EPH 1981[14] 2023 0.52 To be converted to natural gas in time for 2023 capacity market. Kilroot power station, Carrickfergus - geograph.org.uk - 278551.jpg
Ratcliffe on Soar Nottinghamshire Uniper 1968[14] September 2024[16] 2.00 One of the four units will be closed earlier than the rest of the power station with a plan to close this unit by September 2022.[17] Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station with coal train, 26th March 2007.jpg

See also[]

References[]

  1. ^ Gosden, Emily (18 November 2015). "UK coal plants must close by 2025, Amber Rudd announces". The Independent. London. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  2. ^ "End of coal power to be brought forward in drive towards net zero". Gov UK. 4 February 2020. Retrieved 11 March 2020.
  3. ^ "Plans to bring coal phase-out date forward to 2024 unveiled". Current.
  4. ^ "UK to end coal power by 2024".
  5. ^ Clowes, Ed (11 December 2019). "Wales last coal power plant to go dark on Friday". The Telegraph. London. Retrieved 11 December 2019.
  6. ^ "Fiddler's Ferry: Coal-fired power station closes after 50 years".
  7. ^ "UK's Drax ends commercial coal generation". Montel News. 8 March 2021. Retrieved 13 March 2021.
  8. ^ "British power generation achieves first ever coal-free day". The Guardian. London. 22 April 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  9. ^ "Britain passes one week without coal power for first time since 1882". The Guardian. London. 8 May 2019. Retrieved 10 May 2019.
  10. ^ "Britain hits coal-free month milestone as demand remains low". . London. 11 May 2020. Retrieved 3 June 2020.
  11. ^ Reuters Staff (January 11, 2021). "Britain sees greenest year for electricity in 2020 – National Grid". Reuters – via www.reuters.com.
  12. ^ Evans, Simon (10 February 2016). "Countdown to 2025: Tracking the UK coal phase out". Carbon Brief. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  13. ^ "Last 12 months – MyGridGB".
  14. ^ a b c "Power Stations in the United Kingdom (operational at the end of May 2004)" (PDF). Retrieved 11 September 2020.
  15. ^ "Nottinghamshire's West Burton A power station to close in 2022". BBC News. 2021-03-22. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  16. ^ "EDF announces closure of West Burton A power station, leaving Britain with one remaining coal plant". iNews. 2021-03-22. Retrieved 2021-03-22.
  17. ^ "One coal unit at Britain's Ratcliffe power plant to close next year -Uniper". Reuters.
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