Britain’s last remaining coal power plant, Uniper’s Ratcliffe-on-Soar in Nottinghamshire, generated electricity for the final time on Monday, 30 September 2024, marking the end of its 57-year service powering the UK. This closure aligns with the UK government’s long-standing policy to phase out coal power, first announced nearly a decade ago.
The shutdown symbolises the end of the UK’s 142-year coal power history, which began in 1882 with the world’s first coal-fired power station, Holborn Viaduct. Green campaigners have hailed this moment as a significant step in reducing the UK’s carbon emissions and demonstrating international climate leadership, while also ensuring a “just transition” for the country’s coal workers.
Michael Shanks, the minister for energy said, “Today’s closure at Ratcliffe marks the end of an era and coal workers can be rightly proud of their work powering our country for over 140 years. We owe generations a debt of gratitude as a country.”
The UK became the first country to set an end date for coal power, originally planned for 2025, but the government accelerated the deadline by one year ahead of hosting the UN’s COP26 climate summit in Glasgow in 2021. Ratcliffe’s 170 remaining staff will gather in the canteen on Monday to watch a live stream of the plant’s control room as its generating units are shut down for the last time.
“It is an emotional day for me as well as for the team. When I started my career 36 years ago, none of us imaged a future without coal generation in our lifetimes. I am incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together over the years and to be part of this energy milestone as the country focuses on a cleaner energy future,” said Peter O’Grady, Plant Manager, Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station
At its peak, Ratcliffe employed 3,000 engineers, but its workforce has gradually declined alongside coal power’s role in the UK, which once provided 80% of the nation’s electricity in the 1980s but dwindled to almost nothing in the past decade due to rising carbon taxes and the growth of renewable energy.
Ratcliffe’s closure was originally planned for late 2022, but its owner, German energy company Uniper, extended operations due to the Europe-wide gas crisis caused by Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. Uniper has worked closely with unions to transition many engineers to new roles within the company or other sectors of the energy industry. More than 100 staff will remain at the plant for decommissioning work over the next two years.
Uniper’s CEO Michael Lewis said, “For me, Ratcliffe has always been more than just a power station—it has been a pillar of the UK’s energy security for decades. Built during a time when coal was the backbone of industrial progress, Ratcliffe powered over two million homes and businesses—equivalent to the entire East Midlands region. It played a crucial role in boosting economic growth and supporting the livelihoods of thousands of people.”
He added, “This will be the first time since 1882 that coal has not powered Great Britain. As we close this chapter, we honor Ratcliffe’s legacy and the people working here, while embracing the future of cleaner and flexible energy. In this context, Uniper aims to invest in technologies like CCS, Renewables and hydrogen. The goal is to decarbonise our remaining power assets and to deliver low carbon fuel as well as green and reliable energy to our customers.”
Mike Lockett, Uniper UK Country Chair said, “Ratcliffe power station has played a key role in keeping the lights on over the past 57 years, and now we look to what could be the future for the site. As we mark the end of coal generation for Uniper in the UK, I’d like to thank all our colleagues, past and present who have worked hard to keep the power station delivering reliable power generation through the decades.”