Latest News

UK's coal plant closure a turning point towards climate goals, Uniper CEO states

ONSOAR, England, Oct 1 (Reuters) The closure of Britain's last coal plant is a significant milestone on the path for the nation to fulfill its environment targets, stated the CEO of Uniper, which owns the plant.

Britain has an environment target to reach net zero emissions by 2050 and decarbonise its power sector by 2030 which will need it to decrease nonrenewable fuel source power production and increase eco-friendly generation such as wind and solar.

This is absolutely an essential turning point in delivering that and we shouldn't undervalue how important this is. It's the first time in 142 years that there will be no coal on the UK energy system, Michael Lewis, Uniper CEO said in an interview at an event to mark the plant's closure.

The Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station, in England's Midlands started generation in 1967 and has actually produced enough energy to make more than 21 trillion cups of tea and its 2 gigawatt capability is enough to power two million homes.

The plant utilized 170 personnel and Lewis stated some are taking voluntary redundancy, some are retiring and others are staying to aid with decommissioning which will take around two years.

After decommissioning there are different options to establish the website around sophisticated manufacturing and low carbon energy and storage ... we will be looking at whatever's possible, he said.

The plant closure, late on Monday, suggests Britain is the first G7 nation to end coal-power generation and Lewis said other nations can gain from Britain's development.

Through long-term policy incentives, we've driven down the expense (of renewables) and that's allowed us to build up the position where we can close coal, he stated.

(source: Reuters)