UK To Phase Out Coal Fired Power Plants by 2025

Coal amongst others is used for electricity generation and steel making. Until the late 1960s coal was the main source of energy in UK. In the 80s and 90s UK government started to close down these coal fired power stations and focus on gas , oil and renewable energies. Coal fired plants which adds to pollution has made UK one of top industrial polluters in Europe.

In a latest development Government of UK's Press Release from Department of Energy and Climate Change made on 18/11/2015 quoting Secretary Amber Rudd, who spoke at the Institution of Civil Engineers in London, made the crucial announcement, " One of the greatest and most cost-effective contributions we can make to emission reductions in electricity is by replacing coal fired power stations with gas.

"I am pleased to announce that we will be launching a consultation in the spring on when to close all unabated coal-fired power stations. "Our consultation will set out proposals to close coal by 2025 - and restrict its use from 2023. If we take this step, we will be one of the first developed countries to deliver on a commitment to take coal off the system.

"But let me be clear, we'll only proceed if we're confident that the shift to new gas can be achieved within these timescales.

She also explained that nuclear power had a central role in the UK's energy future:

"Opponents of nuclear misread the science. It is safe and reliable. The challenge, as with other low carbon technologies, is to deliver nuclear power which is low cost as well. Green energy must be cheap energy.

"It is imperative we do not make the mistakes of the past and just build one nuclear power station. There are plans for a new fleet of nuclear power stations, including at Wylfa and Moorside. It also means exploring new opportunities like Small Modular Reactors, which hold the promise of low cost, low carbon energy."

The press release stated further that a consultation will be published in the spring on when to close all unabated coal-fired power stations. The consultation will set out proposals to close coal by 2025 and restrict its use from 2023

The BBC reported that Former US vice president Al Gore, an active campaigner for clean energy, described the announcement as an "excellent and inspiring precedent".

In respect of the issue of using renewable energies Amber Rudd said that the government would be will to "commit support for offshore winds" and "make funds available" and "if and only if" there is reduction in costs.

The NY Times referred to Dieter Helm, a professor of energy politics at the University of Oxford saying:

"If you are serious about climate change, the first thing to do is get out of coal," he said in an interview. From this perspective, he said, Britain appears to be more serious about tackling climate change than is Germany.

The NY Times also made mention that Germany has invested heavily in wind and solar in recent years, but it still gets about 25 percent of its energy from coal and other solid fuels.