On 30 September 2024, the UK’s last coal-fired power station was shut down. The closure of Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in Nottinghamshire is the end of an era and a key milestone on the journey to decarbonisation. The UK was the birthplace of coal power and the Industrial Revolution – it has now turned its back on coal forever.
This view of Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station shows the huge stocks of coal that were needed to keep the station operating. At its peak, the station could produce enough electricity to power more than 2 million homes, roughly the whole of the East Midlands. The cooling towers have been a key landmark of the East Midlands for decades.
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