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UNITED KINGDOM

Data is updated as of Jan 2024
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March 21, 2024

How China completely redefined a key energy target

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About United Kingdom

In 2015, the United Kingdom (UK) was the first national government to announce a commitment to phase out unabated coal use, setting a target date of 2025 (which was later brought forward to 2024). As the UK’s Powering Past Coal Alliance website profile notes, the decision was notable given the history of coal use in the UK. In 1882, England was the first country to use coal to generate electricity. During the 1980s, coal provided over 70% of its electricity. This figure fell during the 1990s following investments in gas. But, as recently as 2012, coal generation still provided 40% of the country’s electricity generation from a coal fleet of over 27,000 megawatts (MW). Market trends and new government policies, including a carbon tax for power plants in 2013, combined to rapidly decrease coal generation to less than 2% of electricity in 2021. As of December 2023, the UK has 2,172 MW of operating coal capacity at a single coal plant, following retirements of coal plants throughout the year totaling 3,062 MW of capacity. Since 2020, historic “coal-free day” streaks are now frequent in the UK. In September 2021, the UK was part of the coalition of national governments that launched the No New Coal Power Compact, which requires supporters to cease permitting of new coal power plants and end new construction of unabated coal plants by the end of 2021. In its most recent Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), submitted in September 2022, the United Kingdom committed to reduce its emissions by at least 68% below 1990 levels by 2030.

Capacity (MW)

Net Change Since 2000

Capacity (MW)

Net Change Since 2000

Phase-Out Status

PHASE-OUT BY 2030

No New Coal Status

PART OF NO NEW COAL POWER COMPACT

Part of PPCA?

YES

Five-Year Country Capacity Trend

Operational

Constructing

Planned

Halted

Cancelled

Retired

Expected Retirement by 2030

Operational

Constructing

Planned

Halted

Cancelled

Retired

Expected Retirement by 2030

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Five-Year Country Capacity Trend

Operational

Constructing

Planned

Halted

Cancelled

Retired

Expected Retirement by 2030

Operational

Constructing

Planned

Halted

Cancelled

Retired

Expected Retirement by 2030

RESEARCH & ANALYSIS

GermanySpainUnited KingdomGlobal

Analysis: Global coal power set for record fall in 2019

Global electricity production from coal is on track to fall by around 3% in 2019, the largest drop on record. This would amount to a reduction of around 300 terawatt hours (TWh), more than the combined total output from coal in Germany, Spain and the UK last year.

READ THE FULL REPORT

November 25, 2019

GermanySpainUnited King...

Analysis: Global coal power set for record fall in 2019

Global electricity production from coal is on track to fall by around 3% in 2019, the largest drop on record. This would amount to a reduction of around 300 terawatt hours (TWh), more than the combined total output from coal in Germany, Spain and the UK last year.

READ THE FULL REPORT

November 25, 2019

Strong currents: G7 coal transition data trends

Since 2015, E3G has tracked data trends and policy developments across the G7, building a picture of G7 progress on coal phase-out. We set out here the key data trends from our 2021 G7 Coal Scorecard report, with interactive data visualisations that explore coal capacity and elec ...

Strong currents: G7 coal transition data trends

Since 2015, E3G has tracked data trends and policy developments across the G7, building a picture of G7 progress on coal phase-out. We set out here the key data trends from our 2021 G7 Coal Scorecard report, with interactive data visualisations that explore coal capacity and elec ...

38,000 air pollution-related deaths avoided in Europe in 2020, as fossil fuel burning dropped

COVID-19 control measures and increases in renewable energy caused a steep drop in fossil fuel burning in Europe in 2020. This led to an approximately 14% reduction in average level of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution, 7% reduction in average level of particulate matter pollution ...

READ THE FULL REPORT

March 08, 2021

38,000 air pollution-related deaths avoided in Europe in 2020, as fossil fuel burning dropped

COVID-19 control measures and increases in renewable energy caused a steep drop in fossil fuel burning in Europe in 2020. This led to an approximately 14% reduction in average level of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) pollution, 7% reduction in average level of particulate matter pollution ...

READ THE FULL REPORT

March 08, 2021

Analysis: Global coal power set for record fall in 2019

Global electricity production from coal is on track to fall by around 3% in 2019, the largest drop on record. This would amount to a reduction of around 300 terawatt hours (TWh), more than the combined total output from coal in Germany, Spain and the UK last year.

READ THE FULL REPORT

November 25, 2019

Analysis: Global coal power set for record fall in 2019

Global electricity production from coal is on track to fall by around 3% in 2019, the largest drop on record. This would amount to a reduction of around 300 terawatt hours (TWh), more than the combined total output from coal in Germany, Spain and the UK last year.

READ THE FULL REPORT

November 25, 2019

Strong currents: G7 coal transition data trends

Since 2015, E3G has tracked data trends and policy developments across the G7, building a picture of G7 progress on coal phase-out. We set out here the key data trends from our 2021 G7 Coal Scorecard report, with interactive data visualisations that explore coal capacity and elec ...

Strong currents: G7 coal transition data trends

Since 2015, E3G has tracked data trends and policy developments across the G7, building a picture of G7 progress on coal phase-out. We set out here the key data trends from our 2021 G7 Coal Scorecard report, with interactive data visualisations that explore coal capacity and elec ...

LET’S END COAL NOW.

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© 2024. BLOOMBERG GLOBAL COAL COUNTDOWN.
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LET’S END COAL NOW.

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© 2024. BLOOMBERG GLOBAL COAL COUNTDOWN.
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.