Ratcliffe-on-Soar, the last coal power station in operation in the United Kingdom, has seen a spike in activity during a severe cold spell. Compared to the UK’s average coal contribution of just 1% in 2023, the coal plant’s 3.4% share of the country’s total electricity generation at the beginning of the week is striking. The demand for electricity is expected to increase as the temperature is expected to drop to minus 10 degrees Celsius.Ratcliffe-on-Soar, the last coal power station in operation in the United Kingdom, has seen a spike in activity during a severe cold spell. Compared to the UK’s average coal contribution of just 1% in 2023, the coal plant’s 3.4% share of the country’s total electricity generation at the beginning of the week is striking. Given the current temperatures.
In the Context of Green Energy, Coal Power
The UK’s reliance on coal for electricity is generally declining at the same time as the increased activity at Ratcliffe-on-Soar. The National Grid ESO already kept five coal plants on standby last winter to prepare for peak demand. But this season, with the closure of the other facilities, only Ratcliffe is still in operation. The British government plans to close Ratcliffe-on-Soar, which is owned by Germany’s Uniper, in September.
Even while wind power output has made a significant contribution to relieving grid pressure, worries remain regarding possible problems in the event that wind generation declines in the days ahead. The costs of shutting down wind turbines to prevent grid overloading are highlighted in a paper by the energy think tank Policy Exchange. The UK is estimated to pay £1 billion for these costs annually, and over £3.5 billion is predicted to be incurred over the next ten years. The study recommends using wind energy waste to create green hydrogen, which might displace gray hydrogen with a high carbon content and help the UK’s steel industry become less carbon-intensive.
Carbon Capture and Nuclear Ambitions for the UK’s Energy Future
In related energy news, Claire Coutinho, the energy secretary, is about to decide whether to upgrade the Drax power station’s wood-burning units using carbon capture technology. Three Tory MPs have questioned Drax about the environmental effects of clearing forests in North America, even though Drax commissioned study suggesting that the retrofit could remove 8 million tonnes of CO2 yearly. There is controversy over the possible cost of installing carbon capture at Drax. An energy think tank estimated that bill-payers would have to pay an extra £1 billion a year in costs.
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