The Nottinghamshire-based Ratcliffe-on-Soar Power Station is to begin its decommission process on September 30th following almost six decades of operation.

Coal power peaked at around 70% of UK electricity production in the 1980s but is virtually non-existent nowadays.

Notably, the most significant drop in coal reliance was seen more recently. In the early- to mid-2010s, coal was responsible for about 40% of electricity production before plummeting to under 5% by 2020.

The Ratcliffe-on-Soar coal station was commissioned in January 1968 and is due to begin decommissioning on September 30th.

Global energy company and Ratcliffe-on-Soar owner Uniper has expressed hope that the site will be used for a zero-carbon energy and technology hub.

Uniper’s Technology Centre which is used for energy generation research and development is located at Ratcliffe-on-Soar.

The government is looking to propel forward the UK’s embrace of renewable energy technology. This is with new infrastructure and grid connections changes needed to achieve the government’s target of 100% clean and affordable electricity by the end of the decade.