End of an era as Nottinghamshire power station shuts down for final time
UK coal-fired electricity production will stop today (Monday September 30) after 142 years when Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station is finally shut down for the last time.
The iconic plant – whose cooling towers have long been symbolic to weary travellers on their way back to Nottingham – has been generating power for around two million homes since it came online in 1968, but has been the last of its kind in the UK for a year.
Ratcliffe-on-Soar’s workforce of around 170 people will stay on-site past today’s symbolic moment to help owner Uniper with the decommissioning of the plant.
Last year, fossil fuel burning made up just 1% of the UK’s energy supply – down from around 80% in 1990.
Dhara Vyas, deputy chief executive of Energy UK, said: “Ten years ago, coal was the leading source of this country’s power – generating a third of our electricity.
“So, to get to this point just a decade later, with coal’s contribution replaced by clean and low carbon sources, is an incredible achievement.
“As we aim for further ambitious targets in the energy transition, it’s worth remembering that few back then thought such a change at such a pace was possible.”
Some 7,000 jobs could be created on the site of the Nottinghamshire power station, once it is decommissioned and the land made safe.
Last year, Rushcliffe Borough Council council bestowed Local Development Order (LDO) planning permission status upon it.
The council said the LDO could fast-track new investment, green industry and business projects and potentially create thousands of permanent highly-skilled jobs.
The LDO could increase the speed at which planning processes could be progressed.
The council says the site could be used for a zero carbon technology and energy hub for the East Midlands, or for advanced manufacturing and low-carbon energy production – for example, to produce electric car batteries.
Director of policy and insight at East Midlands Chamber Richard Blackmore, said: “Having powered millions of East Midlands homes for nearly six decades, the steam from Ratcliffe-on-Soar’s towers is a familiar site, whether you fly into East Midlands Airport or drive along the M1, but the continued transition toward reduced greener energy cannot wait.
“Reduced carbon emissions and more sustainable energy production take us closer toward reaching Net Zero, will boost employment and the economy through Green Growth. The East Midlands has development projects underway looking at nuclear fusion, nuclear fission and hydrogen; we have the UK’s only inland Freeport and extensive research is carried out at the region’s universities into future energy technology, but support from the new government is needed.
“With the Autumn Statement fast approaching, it’s essential that priority is given to backing low carbon projects like solar, wind, and small modular nuclear reactors; we need funding for energy storage and grid modernisation and Net Zero initiatives need to be properly incentivised so that the East Midlands can be firmly established as a leader in clean energy.”
Part of the power station site is designated as the East Midlands Freeport, the UK’s only inland Freeport, which provides the catalyst to lever significant international investment in the Borough.
