**UK Completes Rapid Transition by Closing Last Coal Power Plant**

In a significant step towards a cleaner energy future, the UK has officially closed its last remaining coal power plant, Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station in Nottinghamshire. This milestone marks the end of a long era, as the UK shifts away from coal, which once played a pivotal role in its energy mix.

"This is the final chapter of a remarkably swift transition from the country that started the Industrial Revolution," commented Phil MacDonald, managing director of global energy think tank Ember.

Coal power has been an integral part of the UK's energy landscape since the world's first coal power plant began operations in London in 1882. Even as recently as 2012, coal accounted for 39% of the UK's electricity supply. However, rapid changes in energy policy and investments in cleaner alternatives have significantly reduced this share, which has been at 2% or lower since 2019, according to Ember’s data.

Ember's report, "The UK's journey to a coal power phase-out," identifies five crucial elements that powered this swift decline. These include the early announcement of a 2025 coal exit, the implementation of a carbon price, substantial support for offshore wind projects, market reforms that favor renewable energy, and strategic investments in the national grid.

"The UK provided both the carrots and the sticks," MacDonald said. "It's important to signal that polluting sources have an end date, but also to provide an enabling environment to build the new clean energy system."

Interestingly, the UK has managed to replace coal predominantly with wind and solar energy, without an increased reliance on gas. The country now aims to achieve a fully decarbonized power system by 2030.

The benefits of this coal phase-out are manifold. This transition has not only reduced emissions but also lowered costs. Since 2012, the decline in coal power has prevented the release of 880 million tonnes of emissions, a figure more than double the UK's total emissions for 2023. Moreover, the shift to wind and solar is estimated to have saved approximately £2.9 billion in costs.

With the closure of its last coal plant, the UK joins a growing number of Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries that have moved away from coal. Over a third of these countries are now coal-free, and three-quarters are expected to eliminate coal power by 2030, in line with global climate goals to limit warming to 1.5C.

Globally, coal’s share in electricity generation among OECD countries has dramatically declined from its peak of 36% in 2007 to just 17% today. The surge in solar and wind energy has accounted for 87% of this reduction. Similar progress is seen in countries like France, Canada, and Sweden, and significant advances are also being made in the United States.

The UK's decisive move away from coal sets a precedent and offers a hopeful benchmark for global efforts towards a sustainable energy future.