UK coal phase-out leads G7 with historic commitment

It was recently shared that the UK coal phase-out plan is now complete, making the nation the first G7 country to move away from coal power. This sustainability strategy has seen the UK close its last remaining coal-fired power station, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, ending coal power for the country.

The final step of the UK coal phase-out plan

Since opening in 1967, Ratcliffe-on-Soar has received approximately 141,768 deliveries of coal by rail. A typical train carried up to 15,000 tonnes of coal to the site. Located nine miles from Nottingham, the station had been supplying electricity to the national grid for 57 years. 

The Central Electricity Generating Board established the plant in 1968, and it burnt more than 5 million tonnes of coal per year. This station was producing enough electricity at full capacity to provide more than two million East Midlands homes. 

The closure of the plant followed the UK Government’s 2015 announcement that all coal-fired power stations would close by 2025. This coal phase-out deadline was eventually brought forward to 2024. At the start of the 20th century, coal accounted for more than 95 percent of the UK’s electricity generation and by 2022, this figure fell to 1 percent. 

Michael Shanks, Minister for Energy, has said that the closure of Ratcliffe-on-Soar marks the end of an era and coal workers should be proud of their work powering the country for over 140 years. He added, however, that while it is the end of an era for coal, the new age for renewable energy jobs in the UK is just beginning.

The UK government’s clean energy mission strives to create good jobs in wind power and new technologies like carbon capture and storage. This work is helping the nation boost its energy independence and security, protecting families from rising fossil fuel prices and, with it, tackling climate change and creating jobs. 

Helping employees transition following closure

The station was run by Uniper and employed around 350 people. In preparation for the closure, Uniper worked with trade unions to manage the transition for employees, including offering external opportunities with industry partners, internal job transfers, and support for retraining and reskilling. 

Workers were also provided with voluntary redundancy packages and flexible release options. This allowed them to exit early while retaining redundancy benefits. Although measures have been taken to prepare the 655-acre site for redevelopment, there are no confirmed plans just yet. 

Final thoughts

The closure of Ratcliffe-on-Soar marks a defining moment in the UK’s transition to clean energy. It symbolises the nation’s commitment to a sustainable, low-carbon future. This UK coal phase-out reinforces the UK’s leadership in climate action among G7 countries. 

It also sets the stage for a new era of energy independence and job creation.  As the UK continues to phase out coal and invest in corporate sustainability training, it will be interesting to see how former coal sites will be transformed to support the nation’s ambitious vision.