Uniper’s CEO, said the closure of the UK’s last coal-fired power plant is an important milestone in the UK meeting its climate targets.
The UK has a climate target to reach net-zero emissions by 2050 and decarbonize its power sector by 2030, which requires it to reduce fossil fuel power production and increase renewable power generation such as wind and solar.
Michael Lewsi, CEO of Uniper said that this is an important milestone in realizing climate targets and should not be taken lightly. He said that this will be the first time in 142 years that there will be no coal in the UK energy system.
Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station in the Midlands, UK has generated enough energy to produce more than 21 trillion cups of the and its capacity of 2 gigawatts is enough to power two million homes.
The plant reportedly employs 170 staff and Lewis also said that some are taking voluntary leave, some are retiring, and some are staying on to help with the decommissioning process which will take about two years.
Lewis said, after decommissioning, there will be a range of options to develop the Site around advanced manufacturing and low-carbon energy and storage. He said he would look at other possibilities.
The closure of the plant last Monday made the UK the first G7 country to phase out coal-fired power and Lewis said that other countries could learn from the UK.
He said, through long-term policy incentives, it has brought down the cost of (renewable energy) and this has allowed it to build a position where it can close coal plants.
