List of active coal fired power stations in the United Kingdom

There are currently 7 active coal fired power stations operating in the United Kingdom which have a total generating capacity of 11GW. Eggborough closed in 2018 and has been granted consent to convert into a gas fired power station. It has been announced that Kilroot will also close in 2018. Both Uskmouth and Lynemouth power stations are being converted to run on Biomass. Ironbridge ceased operations in late 2015. Then in 2016, three power stations closed at Rugeley, Ferrybridge and Longannet. In November 2015, it was announced by the UK Government that all coal fired power stations would be closed by 2025.[1]

The use of coal power fell by a fifth in 2014 to historic lows not seen since before the Industrial Revolution. Coal supplied 7% of UK electricity in 2017, down from 9% in 2016, 23% in 2015 and 30% in 2014.[2] In May 2016, for the first time solar power produced more electricity than coal, producing 1.33TWh compared to 0.9TWh from coal.[3] On 21 April 2017 for the first time since the 19th century the UK had a 24-hour period without any generation from coal power.[4] In 2017 coal produced 19.4 TWh of electricity. 624 hours of electricity generated in 2017 was free of coal generation up from 210 hours in 2016.

Name Location Owner Date Commissioned Total capacity (GW) CO2 Mt (2014) Notes Image
Drax Units 5 & 6North YorkshireDrax Group19871.3216.60Units 1-4 run on biomass[5] with plan to convert two current coal units to gas, plus battery storage by 2023-24.[6]
Ratcliffe on SoarNottinghamshireUniper19682.009.22No plans to close.
Fiddlers FerryCheshireSSE plc19711.966.86One unit contracted to SBR for winter 2016/17, another has National Grid "ancillary services" contract. Two other units to remain available.
West Burton ANottinghamshireEDF Energy19682.009.21No plans to close.
CottamNottinghamshireEDF Energy19692.008.85No plans to close.
Aberthaw BVale of GlamorganRWE npower19721.586.04Planning partial closure. Co-fires biomass.
KilrootCounty AntrimAES Corporation19820.522.15Kilroot may remain operational for winter 2018.[7]

References

  1. ↑ Gosden, Emily (18 November 2015). "UK coal plants must close by 2025, Amber Rudd announces". The Independent. London. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  2. ↑ Evans, Simon (10 February 2016). "Countdown to 2025: Tracking the UK coal phase out". Carbon Brief. Retrieved 7 March 2016.
  3. ↑ Carrington, Damian (7 June 2016). "UK solar eclipses coal power over month for first time". The Guardian. London. Retrieved 7 June 2016.
  4. ↑ "British power generation achieves first ever coal-free day". The Guardian. London. 22 April 2017. Retrieved 24 April 2017.
  5. ↑ "Fourth biomass unit conversion - Drax". 17 January 2018. Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  6. ↑ "More local events to discuss gas and battery project - Drax". Retrieved 26 February 2018.
  7. ↑ "UK expected to use coal for power in winter". 11 Sep 2018.
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