Electricity generation from fossil fuels in the UK has plummeted to an all-time low following the closure of the country’s last coal-fired power station.
In August, fossil fuel-based power generation fell to less than 5GW, marking the lowest monthly average recorded during the third quarter, according to Drax Electric Insights. This milestone coincided with the closure of the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station, cementing the UK’s position as the first major economy to completely phase out coal power.
Despite this achievement, Dr. Iain Staffell of Imperial College London, the author of the Drax report, cautioned that transitioning away from natural gas will be significantly more challenging than coal.
European gas prices remain elevated as winter demand increases, compounded by a recent “dunkelflaute” event—periods of low wind and solar power output.
Dr. Staffell noted: “Gas provides the grid with a flexible and essential supply that is difficult to replace, ensuring energy security at present. If we aim to further reduce dependence on gas by prioritizing wind and solar, these will require backing from technologies like long-duration energy storage (LDES) and dispatchable thermal power. A bold government strategy is also needed to rapidly upgrade our transmission grid.”
Dutch front-month gas futures, the European benchmark, were last down 1.2% today, trading at approximately €46 per MWh.
