Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station shutdown marks ‘end of an era’ for coal power
It's stopped generating energy after more than 50 years of powering the East Midlands.
Notes to editors. Copy amended at 19:55 on 30/09/24 to add in name of Greenpeace member Bob Knight in the 13th par. This was left out by error in the original story. Remainder of the copy is the same
The UK’s last coal-fired power station has ceased generating energy after more than 50 years of powering Nottinghamshire.
The closure of Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station marks an end to the country’s 142-year reliance on coal.
Capable of powering two million homes, the facility started production in 1968 and is a distinctive landmark with its eight cooling towers and 199-metre-tall chimney.
It marks a move away from coal, the dirtiest of fossil fuels, towards greener fuels.
Decommissioning will start today (Tuesday 1st October), and is expected to take two years to complete.
People came to bear witness to the power station’s final day of operation on Monday (September 30), taking pictures from a nearby bridge and outside the gate.
Local historian Ian Castledine said: “I’m here to see the old girl out. It’s the true end of King Coal in the country.
“I’ve been photographing Ratcliffe-on-Soar for the last 15 years, coming out in all weathers, night and day.
“We saw the last coal delivery come in a couple of weeks ago, which was quite emotional.
“Cooling towers have been a huge part of the landscape of Great Britain for a long time. I would hope we preserve at least one, but I doubt that will happen.
“They were such a landmark – wherever you go, people would say ‘I know I’m home when I see the cooling towers’.”
Nottinghamshire was once renowned for both its mines and coal-fired power stations, but the industry has declined in favour of cleaner, renewable sources of energy.
Greenpeace member Bob Knight said: “It’s something to celebrate, but I also wanted to thank Ratcliffe-on-Soar for all the power it’s generated over the years – the lights it’s kept on, the jobs it’s generated, the people it’s kept warm.”
“We’re hopefully going to use this site for greener energy generation in the future.”
Stefan Page, whose father worked in Cheshire power station Fiddler’s Ferry, said: “I’ve been coming here for years and years, and I will follow it being demolished and rebuilt in future.
“It has way outlived its sell-by date. It was only built for 30-odd years, and it’s smashed past that.
“As of tomorrow, there will be no more power generated by coal in the UK ever again – I can’t see them building another one of these.”
All four of the 500MW generators ran simultaneously for the last time in January, and the power station received its final delivery of coal in June.
Operator Uniper hopes to transform the site into a low-carbon energy hub following a Local Development Order.
The power station will also be one of three sites hosting the East Midlands Freeport, which will have government incentives to bring investment.
Ratcliffe-on-Soar’s plant Manager Peter O’Grady said: “It is an emotional day for me as well as for the team. When I started my career 36 years ago, none of us imaged a future without coal generation in our lifetimes.
“I am incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together over the years and to be part of this energy milestone as the country focuses on a cleaner energy future.”
Richard Bull, who leads the Centre for Sustainable Construction and Retrofit at Nottingham Trent University, told the Local Democracy Reporting Service it’s an exciting time for the creation of net zero jobs.
“Mining has been interwoven in Nottingham’s history, culture and energy. The UK has been dependent on coal until the last 15 to 20 years,” he said.
“Now it makes up less than one per cent of our energy use before the shutdown.
“It’s been a painful transition away from coal, but there’s an opportunity for lots of renewable net-zero jobs – I hope that will happen at Ratcliffe-on-Soar.”
The Department for Energy Security and Net Zero says it would support green jobs on the site.
A spokesperson said: “The clean energy transition represents a huge opportunity to bolster our energy security, tackle the climate crisis and protect billpayers permanently.
“No community should be left behind in the transition and we are working with Uniper to ensure their plans for Ratcliffe-on-Soar benefit the community by supporting green jobs in existing and future industries.”