The UK's coal-free days are now set to stay

The UK had its first coal-free day in 2017. Next month, a new coal-free era begins with the closure of the UK’s last coal plant.

Coal’s displacement from the UK power sector happened extraordinarily rapidly. Since 2000, 25 coal plants have closed or switched to other fuels, 15 of those since 2012.

The combination of policy and financial incentives since the early 2000s meant that the role of coal began to dwindle long before the closure of Ratcliffe power plant. The UK has seen an increasing number of coal-free power days after the first in 2017. This trend did not reverse in recent years, even as gas prices spiked in the wake of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. As of 1st October 2024, coal-free days are set to stay.