The UK has officially closed the Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station in Nottinghamshire, marking the end of coal-powered electricity in the country. This closure represents a significant milestone in the nation's transition toward cleaner energy.

"This is the final chapter of a remarkably swift transition from the country that started the Industrial Revolution," said Phil MacDonald, managing director of global energy think tank Ember.

The world's first coal power plant opened in London in 1882. As recently as 2012, coal accounted for 39% of the UK's electricity supply. However, according to Ember's data, this percentage dropped rapidly, falling to 2% or less by 2019.

Ember's report, "The UK's Journey to a Coal Power Phase-Out," highlights five key factors behind this shift: setting a 2025 coal exit date, pricing carbon, investing in offshore wind, reforming markets to support renewable energy, and modernizing the grid.

The UK has primarily replaced coal with wind and solar energy without increasing reliance on natural gas. The country now aims for a fully decarbonized power system by 2030.

The phase-out has delivered both environmental and economic benefits. The decline in coal usage since 2012 has avoided 880 million tonnes of carbon emissions and saved an estimated £2.9 billion.

With this closure, more than a third of OECD countries are now coal-free, with three-quarters expected to follow by 2030.

Source: electrek.co