The UK will phase out coal-fired power generation by 2024, the government has confirmed – bringing a previous deadline forward a year sooner than initially planned.
An intention to make the earlier phase out was indicated by Prime Minister Boris Johnson last year, but the announcement confirms new legislation for the move will now be introduced ‘at the earliest opportunity’.
Coal power accounted for less than 2% of the UK’s energy mix in 2020, compared to 40% just ten years ago, with only a handful of coal-fired units remaining.
Earlier this year, French utility EDF confirmed plans to close its West Burton A plant in Nottinghamshire, England by September 2022, leaving the UK with just one commercially-active coal facility by the end of next year.
Ahead of the COP26 climate summit in November, which will be hosted by the UK in Glasgow, major economies are under pressure to eliminate coal from their energy systems as part of commitments to reduce emissions under the Paris Agreement.