Britain Has Gone 2 Months Without Coal Energy

As of June 10, Great Britain has gone two entire months without coal-fired power generation. This is the longest time the UK has gone without generating electricity from coal since the industrial revolution.

The coronavirus' impact on energy demand and generation is one of the main reasons to the achievement of the new milestone. Compared to March 2019, the national daily demand declined by 12-13% this year, as offices, restaurants, hotels, retail stores, and other buildings have shut down due to the coronavirus. In response to the plummeting demand, the National Grid closed the four remaining coal-fired power plants in Great Britain, with the last one closing on 9 April.

Seasonal changes have also contributed to the elimination of energy generated from coal. As spring arrived the demand for electricity decreased, partially because people no longer needed to heat their homes.

As a result of the decline in coal use, the UK government has brought forth a planned ban on coal-fired power generation from 2025 to 2024. This is a great achievement in the fight against climate change and air pollution.