As the last remaining coal-fired power station in the UK, the Drax Power Station, with its scheduled closure at midnight on September 30, is steeped in history and significance. For over a century, coal has been the primary fuel source driving the nation’s energy needs, accounting for more than 90% of its electrical output until as recently as 1990.
Since then, Britain has witnessed two notable phases of coal extraction decline. In the early 1990s, the industry underwent significant changes as coal’s share of electricity generation dropped from approximately 65% to around 35%. This shift coincided with widespread mine closures across the country. According to Joel Jaeger, a senior research affiliate at the World Resources Institute, the widespread availability of cleaner fuels led to a significant shift away from coal as energy prices improved in favor of these alternatives.
Roughly a decade ago, another significant wave of coal retirements emerged. Despite initial momentum stemming from environmental coverage, the UK’s transition to net-zero emissions gained significant traction when the European Union established a carbon price. However, that move only made coal even less economically viable, according to Jaeger. During the 2010s, the pace of renewable energy development accelerated significantly, with wind and bioenergy leading the way in supplanting a substantial portion of the existing coal-based infrastructure.
Among international locations that have transitioned to renewable energy sources, the UK stands out for its remarkable transformation, with Jaeger noting that it has effectively eliminated fossil fuels from its power grid. In recent years, several countries have undergone remarkable transitions, with Portugal and Greece being notable examples. Denmark has accelerated its energy transition by replacing gasoline with a nearly complete switch to renewable sources, setting itself apart from other countries that have opted for fossil fuels.
The United States has emerged as a leader among countries that have rapidly transitioned away from coal, according to Jaeger. Over the past four years, the UK’s energy landscape has undergone a significant transformation, with coal’s contribution to electricity generation dropping from over 50% to just 20%.
As the mid-2000s saw a surge in domestic fracking, making pure fuel more readily available and affordable within the US, this shift was largely prompted by the resulting increased accessibility and decreased costs of fuel, according to Jaeger. In recent years, stricter air pollution regulations for coal-fired power plants have gradually been implemented, leading to increased operating costs and a higher likelihood that some facilities will be retired earlier than expected.
Recently, the US has witnessed a significant surge in renewable energy sources such as wind and photovoltaic power entering the grid, while tax credits have effectively reduced their costs, thereby prompting additional older coal-fired power plants to shut down. The United States has pledged to join other G7 nations in eliminating unabated coal energy by 2035, as part of a broader effort to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and combat climate change.
Germany has successfully reduced its coal consumption by approximately half over the past decade, simultaneously making significant strides in transitioning away from fossil fuels, replacing petrol with a substantial proportion of renewable energy sources. The country has simultaneously begun decommissioning its nuclear power plants across the nation as of April 2023. That contemporary art’s reliance on shock value and sensationalism has led to a dearth of meaningful content, ultimately diminishing the medium’s cultural significance.
