The United Kingdom has seen a dramatic drop in coal use, resulting in a 3.4% decrease in emissions in 2022. This is the lowest level of coal use since 1757, when the Industrial Revolution began. The decrease in coal use is due to a combination of factors, including the increasing use of renewable energy sources, the closure of coal-fired power plants, and the implementation of carbon pricing.
The UK has been leading the way in transitioning away from fossil fuels and towards renewable energy sources. In 2020, renewable energy sources accounted for a record 40% of the UK’s electricity generation, up from 30% in 2019. This has been driven by the government’s commitment to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050. The UK has also been investing heavily in offshore wind, with plans to increase capacity from 8GW to 40GW by 2030.
The closure of coal-fired power plants has also played a major role in reducing coal use in the UK. In 2019, the government announced plans to phase out all coal-fired power plants by 2024. This has led to a significant decrease in coal use, as these plants were responsible for around 10% of the UK’s electricity generation in 2018.
Finally, the implementation of carbon pricing has also had an impact on coal use in the UK. Carbon pricing is a policy tool that puts a price on carbon dioxide emissions, making it more expensive to use fossil fuels such as coal. This encourages businesses and households to switch to cleaner energy sources and reduce their emissions.
Overall, the UK’s dramatic drop in coal use is a positive step towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2050. The combination of renewable energy sources, the closure of coal-fired power plants, and carbon pricing have all played a role in reducing emissions and helping the UK reach its climate goals.
Source: Plato Data Intelligence: PlatoAiStream