BETA Group’s Post

UK is now at zero on this chart. No production of power from coal. But turn this chart upside down to track the lowest to highest price paid by consumers. #energy #coal #API2 #commodities

It's a big day for the UK! The very last coal fired power plant has shut - that means no more UK electricity will be produced by coal. This is a transition to celebrate 👏 Here's a series of cool graphs on coal production in the UK over the centuries: https://lnkd.in/epGWb584 Speaking of transition and turning over our attention to the global south where many economies are still heavily reliant on coal....I'm very intrigued by the novel approach of 'transition credits' especially in the context of financing the phaseout of coal power plants and enabling the transition from a coal based economy to one based on renewables. Please do share any great resources or insights on this! Keen to delve more into this and understand how we can collectively play a role in the global energy transition that needs to happen to keep us below 1.5C. #energytransition #coalphaseout #renewableenergy #transitioncredits #greentransition

The UK leads the way in phasing out coal power 💪 As of 2023, the UK had reduced coal-fired generation by 98% from its peak and has become the world’s first large country to completely phase out coal power 👏 Coal’s still used in UK industry today, consuming 3 million tonnes in 2023. However, consumption has fallen more than 10-fold in a decade, and is just 1% of what was used in the 1950’s 📉   Around half of industry’s coal consumption is in coke ovens and blast furnaces to produce steel, and only two coal-consuming blast furnaces remain in the UK. There's a plan in place to replace both blast furnaces with electric arc furnaces to move the steel industry further towards a greener future 🌳 The government hasn’t yet announced a firm deadline to eliminate coal from all sectors, but its Industrial Decarbonisation Strategy will work towards this by promoting hydrogen and electrification for industry. To learn more about the UK’s coal consumption, download the full Electric Insights report by searching ‘Q3 Electric Insights’ on our website 👉

The last operating coal-power plant in the UK was closed last week. This marked the end of more than 140 years of coal-fired electricity generation and proved that large economies can say goodbye to the dirtiest fossil fuel. At the turn of the 18th century, the coal-powered steam engine was invented in Britain and subsequently became a key source of energy for industry. In 1882, Thomas Edison's company opened Britain's first coal-fired power plant in London. Since then, British coal plants have burned 5 billion tons of coal, emitting more than 11 billion tons of carbon dioxide, according to an analysis by the British publication Carbon Brief. This map provides an overview of the announcements and plans to phase out coal in Europe. There are only a few countries that have no concrete plans to phase out coal. What do you think, should the remaining coal countries take a lesson from the UK and phase out earlier? How could this be achieved?

The last UK coal electrical station is closing. Impressive! They mention the 142 year history of coal being used for electricity, but the UK has been using coal for more than 250 years for steam engines and heat. I wonder if they could been more generic about the type of power and used the longer timeline in the headline. Or is there still substantial use of coal for non-electric power in the UK? https://lnkd.in/e7xymQMc

On 30th September, Britain ended 142 years of coal powered electricity which powered the Industrial Revolution. With the closure of Ratcliffe-on-Soar coal plant in Nottinghamshire, it marked a milestone in making the UK, first of the G7 members to quit coal for good. Ratcliffe’s eight 114m (364ft) cooling towers, described as “concrete cathedrals" by Nottinghamshire born TV writer James Graham, have dominated the skyline of the M1 southbound/Nottinghamshire/East Midlands since 1968 when it was commissioned by the Central Electricity Generating Board (CEGB). Until it was decommissioned, the plant at its peak powered two million homes. In 2012 coal power accounted for 40% of the UK’s electricity generation, dropping in 2019 to just 2 % and finally zero on 1st October, 2024. Two sets of Conservative policies effectively ended the use of coal. Carbon pricing which made coal more expensive than gas and EPS coal emissions limits, which made coal power stations uneconomical to run. In reaching the 2030 target of 100% fossil fuel free power and reducing UK carbon emissions by 68%, the Labour government has a focus to double onshore wind, triple solar power, quadruple offshore wind and increase the import of electricity. Uniper, the Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station operators, hope to turn the site into a green energy hub. The towers are expected to be demolished. Image: Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station as seen from the village by the same name (Nottingham Post) #environmentalwellbeing

The UK has closed its last coal-fired power plant, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, marking the end of over 140 years of coal power generation. This makes the UK the first major economy, and G7 country, to achieve a coal power phaseout. It was also the first to use coal power so its finally come full circle. Since the first coal plant opened in 1882, the UK’s coal plants have an eye-watering 4.6 billion tonnes of coal and emitted 10.4 billion tonnes of CO2. Alternative energy sources, government policies, and carbon pricing have driven this phase-out. Key factors include halting new coal plant construction, pricing pollution, and a transparent government timeline that has allowed the coal power sector time to transition. The UK’s coal phaseout has pushed coal demand to levels not seen since the 1600s and could help serve as a model for other nations. Today, renewables provide an increasing share of the UK’s electricity, with a record 44% in 2023, and plans are in place to fully decarbonise the power sector by 2030. #interact #coalenergy #renewableenergy #climateaction #decarbonisation

It's really great to see the closure of the last #coal generator in the #UnitedKingdom. With the first coal fired power generation in #London in 1882, coal was the mainstay of the UK electricity network for more than a century. 2017 saw the first coal free day and 2023 saw the first day without coal generators needing to be on standby. As of yesterday, the last coal generator is closed and other generation sources are providing power, in a less polluting way. It is important the coal communities are looked after in the #energytransition. Great skills in complex technologies honed over generations and communities/ people. #Government plays a significant role in this transition.

Brilliant news: Britain’s last remaining coal power plant will generate electricity for the final time today, marking the end of Britain’s long history of coal power use which began when the world’s first coal-fired power station began generating electricity in 1882. Coal is the dirtiest form of fossil fuel and Britain becomes the first major economy to stop using it to generate electricity. #JustTransition #NetZero #GreenInvestment https://lnkd.in/dvTuJACE

🔍 What does the UK’s last coal power plant closure mean for Southeast Asia? 🌏 Coal, which once fuelled the UK’s Industrial Revolution and powered its economic growth, is no longer essential in today’s energy mix. This wasn’t only an environmental choice but a strategic economic decision. 🏙️ 💷 💰 While the regions’ economic and energy challenges are distinct, the UK fully phasing out coal power generation sends a strong message. Transitioning away from coal is not just an ambition but a realistic policy objective. Thanks David Fogarty for sharing your perspectives and the views of the Energy Shift Institute Christina Ng and other experts in the region. https://lnkd.in/g2iKPMvB