Ratcliffe-on-Soar, the UK's last coal-fired power station, closed on Monday, ending 142 years of coal power in Britain. Reporting on the closure, the BBC wrote that the UK was 'the birthplace of coal power and...becomes the first major economy to give it up.' While several countries have already transitioned away from coal (Iceland, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Latvia, Belgium, Sweden, Austria, Portugal, Norway, and Slovakia), the UK is the first G7 nation to do so. As recently as 2012, 39% of the UK's power was coal-generated, so the closure of Ratcliffe-on-Soar represents a significant milestone in the Government's 2050 net-zero strategy. It hasn't always been smooth sailing, however. In an earlier BBC article, the author describes the difficulties of switching to renewable energy. Coal and gas plants can be turned on or off as required—when demand requires it. Renewable power isn't as straightforward. While clean energy can be stored during periods of excess generation, it's harder to control. The article explains this is because the sun doesn't shine at night, and the wind doesn't always blow. However, renewable power has come a long way in a relatively short period. In 1991, renewables accounted for just 2% of all energy generation. By 2013, this was 14.6%; today, over half of the UK's electricity comes from renewable sources. Energy Minister Michael Shanks paid tribute to coal's role in the developing British industry, calling the closure the 'end of an era'. It certainly helped transform the British economy. The world's first coal-fired power station opened in London in 1882. The Edison Electric Light Station generated power for just shy of 1000 streetlights in the capital and was quickly followed by other power stations. Carbon Brief explains that by 1920, the UK was 'generating 4 terawatt hours of electricity from coal.' Until the 1950s, coal-powered stations were responsible for around 96% of UK electricity. However, the rise of coal power came at a cost to both the environment and public health. While the dangers of air pollution had been understood for many decades, it wasn't until the Great Smog of London in 1952 that the Government began using legislation to protect public health. In December 1952, a cold weather pattern settled over London. While Londoners lit their coal fires to keep warm, the weather pattern sat over the capital, preventing the smoke from homes and factories from dispersing. For five days, a thick smog settled over the city. In places, it was 'up to 200 metres thick', and an estimated 4,000 people died due to the poor air quality. Modern estimates, however, believe that number could be as high as 10,000. In 1956, the Government passed the Clean Air Act, which, among other things, made it illegal for 'dark smoke' to leave the chimneys of any building. It's hard to imagine just how unsettling and dangerous The Great Smog was. Several comments left on the National Archive's website highlight its severity. "I remember it vividly. We lived in Wallington in a valley which trapped the smog well. Gran had been a nurse and was living with us at the time. She insisted we all stay indoors with the curtains closed. So we did, listening to the radio and reading. For some reason, I went into the hall, and there saw the smog pouring like water through the open letterbox. I shut it and coughed. There was a small sea of smog in the hall." Paul Farrell-Vinay. "I can remember not being able to see clearly the opposite wall of our small sitting room because the smog had somehow got through the window." writes Peter Brown. The legacy of the 1956 Clean Air Act is that as well as identifying the dangers of air quality, according to the Association of Directors of Public Health, 'the age-specific death rates of men in Greater London fell by almost half'. Air pollution continues to be a problem in many large cities. It has been linked to not only respiratory health issues but many other conditions, too, including cancers and diseases like dementia and Alzheimer's. There are some parallels to recent news stories, including the North American wildfires, which blanketed New York in a smoky haze for days. Fracking has also been linked to increased health issues among local populations. With Ratcliffe-on-Soar now closed, most of the plant's employees will spend the next two years decommissioning the plant. Trade Unions have also worked closely with the plant's operator to ensure workers are supported during the process. Business Green reports this includes job transfer opportunities, an on-site job centre, flexible and enhanced voluntary redundancy options, and fully-funded training. The idea is not to abandon workers as has happened before but to ensure they can access newly created jobs in the renewable energy sector. It's an exciting time for campaigners and those working in the renewable sector advocating for decarbonisation. While renewable energy isn't quite at the dizzying heights of the coal-powered era just yet, technology and innovation will likely solve many of its challenges. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/sep/30/the-deep-history-of-british-coal-from-the-romans-to-the-ratcliffe-shutdown#:~:text=But%20it%20was%20only%20in,station%20at%20London's%20Holborn%20Viaduct. https://www.theguardian.com/business/2024/sep/30/the-deep-history-of-british-coal-from-the-romans-to-the-ratcliffe-shutdown https://www.whodoyouthinkyouaremagazine.com/feature/great-smog ^ 10,000 people died during the London smog ^ history of stations https://www.nationalgrid.com/stories/energy-explained/how-much-uks-energy-renewable ^ renewable power in 1991 and 2013