What do you think of the UK shutting down its last coal-fired generating plant?

[AviatorTom]

Since 1882, when the first coal-fired generator provided lights in London, the UK has generated most of its electricity from coal. On 30 September 2024, it shut down the last of its coal-fired generating plants, now relying on wind, solar and natural gas, all cleaner than coal, to generate electricity in the country.

With that, the UK becomes the first of the G7 countries to completely eliminate coal as a source of electricity, joining smaller European countries including Belgium, Austria, Sweden, and Portugal to go coal-free.

For comparison, the United States decreased its coal-generating plants from 56% of total electricity generated in 1985 to about 16% in 2023.

What do you think about this?

[ClaircognizantEmpath]

hi, are you uk? my ears spiked up at the news as it said, they are shutting down with a new multi million deal to build an electric plant? i could be very sceptical and say its the last generating plant that could build steel from a carbon based energy source as in.. end of days it would still work... and for years we have had no way to compare to steel from china... so with this new investment, powered by clean? electric? is it having its own nuclear power supply... whos getting the contract... and surely we can't compete with chinas prices?

[purplepoppy]

People have made good points about China opening up new ones as the west closes there's. But if you look at these live carbon monoxide maps I screenshoted a few minutes ago you can see just how bad China air quality is compared to Europe and the USA. You'll get a similar picture with other pollutants too.

[buzzword]

I think it is foolish for a country with such small energy reserves to limit it's options. While Natural Gas is a better option for the UK going forward if new plants are necessary, they can still power their entire country for 1.6 years on their coal reserves. In contrast they can power their country for 8.7 years on their natural gas reserves. It makes most sense to diversify their energy profile and use both coal and natural gas simultaneously so that they deplete their reserves of both energy sources at a slower rate.

[LiamS95]

It's the way of the future and Canadian natural gas is the cleanest burning natural gas in the world. It's greener then solar or windmills as they both have disposal issues as it's not green to dispose of just like the EV batteries are very non green and dangerous to dispose of.

Worrying about our carbon footprint is a waste of time if we can't get China off of coal and Russia off of they're filthy burning natural gas as we don't live in s bubble we all share the same atmosphere.

[docster]

I would wonder where the gas is coming from. I hope it's not from Russia. Since nuclear only provides 16% of their power, the supply of gas better be reliable.

[AviatorTom]

@docster a quick google search gives...
"About half of the UK’s gas comes from the North Sea, and a third is sourced from Norway. The rest is made up of imports of liquefied natural gas (LNG) transported to the UK by sea from countries such as Qatar and the US." ... North Sea gas supplies are expected to run out in the 2030s.

[Anonymous]

Britain's coal was depleted by the 60s after 200 years of mining. We have to find another way to have energy independence or at least produce as much as possible domestically.

They should mothballs the plants and invest in producing cost effective oil and gas from coal mining.

[OtterMan68]

LNG is cleaner and better for the US!

There is NO WAY to safely mine and burn coal. Coal ash is a huge problem for example. "Clean coal" is a myth.

We went from wood to coal to whale oil to kerosine to electricity, so we can go from coal to other forms of enegery production. It's 2024, and coal is a 19th century fuel.

[Dargil]

Europe is spiraling the drain, with few exceptions. Can you say Allahu Akbar? Tamerlane wins in the end.

[exitseven]

It will be interesting to see the reaction when electric bills double and there are brownouts in the summer.

[OtterMan68]

did that happen in Belgium, Austria, and Sweden? They ended coal fired power plants

[exitseven]

@OtterMan68 it happened in Texas.

[OtterMan68]

TX has their own grid. Blame their politicians.

[OtterMan68]

13% of their power comes from coal
51% from natural gas
22% from wind

[NathanDavis]

what about the ones they own... internationally, lol

[noohair]

Not changing what China and India does and will do for 100 years. UNLESS ALL THE COUNTRIES TRY TO SAVE THE PLANET, nothing the United States does will make a difference.

[RedInnocent69]

Thank God. We should all have our shit that together.

[Cubus]

Hope they womt be as hypocritical as Germany, which is shutting down coal mines, but at the same times increases import of coal from Columbia

[gatixek710]

Great, and china just opened 50 of them.

[beefcakebradybatson]

About freakin' time, don't you think?

[LostandFound__x]

I’m proud!!

[FunkyMonkee]

I guess they don't WANT electricity!

[DJB72]

It's fucking crazy.