In a major industrial shift, the UK’s last coal power station, located at Ratcliffe-on-Soar in the Midlands, ceased operations at the end of September. This marks the first time in 142 years that coal-fired power has not contributed to the national grid.

The UK’s first coal-fired power station was built in 1882 by Thomas Edison at Holborn Viaduct. From then on, coal-fired power became the primary method of supplying electricity to UK homes for many decades.

In 2015, when the government announced plans to close coal plants as part of its climate targets, coal was providing nearly 30% of the UK’s electricity. By last year, this had dropped to just 1%, and now coal has been fully phased out.

While this is a positive step towards greener and more environmentally friendly energy sources, it does raise concerns over redundancies and the end of an industry that many people have relied on for income.

This transition highlights the importance for businesses to remain adaptable and not rely solely on traditional methods, but to be open to new technologies and more sustainable processes as they become available.

For more information, visit: https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/c5y35qz73n8o