The UK government have brought forward their target to end coal-fired electricity generation by a year as it continues to try and set the agenda on climate change.
While the percentage of power generated by the carbon-emitting fossil fuel has steadily declined in recent years as green energy procurement becomes more valued, the plan is for the power network to not be reliant on coal at all by October 2024.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson hopes the move will serve to encourage other nations to step up their efforts before the United Nations’ Climate Change Conference (COP26) in November.
“Today we’re sending a clear signal around the world that the UK is leading the way in consigning coal power to the history books and that we’re serious about decarbonising our power system so we can meet our ambitious, world-leading climate targets,” said energy and climate change minister Anne-Marie Trevelyan
“The UK’s net zero future will be powered by renewables, and it is this technology that will drive the green industrial revolution and create new jobs across the country.”
Britain, home to the world’s first coal-fuelled power plant in the 1880s, was largely reliant on the fossil fuel for electricity for the next century.
But in 2020, coal only made up 2% of the overall energy mix as renewables became more popular.
Request a callback
For all enquiries related to this article, or any of our services, call us on 01225 867722 or use the form below to arrange a callback.