The end of an era – Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station ends coal generation

The UK’s last coal-fired power station will close its doors for the final time today (30th September) ending over 140 years of coal-fired generation in the UK.

Uniper’s Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station, near Nottingham, which started generating in 1967, will officially end generation at midnight – marking a key milestone in the UK’s journey to cleaner power. Employees are now completing their final shifts before the plant closes this evening after almost six decades of generation.

Over the years Ratcliffe has played a key role in keeping the nation’s lights on. Since commissioning it has produced enough energy to make more than 21 trillion cups of tea and its 2GW capacity is enough to power two million homes. And its eight iconic 114-metre-high cooling towers are a key part of the East Midlands skyline.

Michael Lewis, Uniper CEO commented: “For me, Ratcliffe has always been more than just a power station—it has been a pillar of the UK’s energy security for decades. Built during a time when coal was the backbone of industrial progress, Ratcliffe powered over two million homes and businesses—equivalent to the entire East Midlands region. It played a crucial role in boosting economic growth and supporting the livelihoods of thousands of people. This will be the first time since 1882 that coal has not powered Great Britain. As we close this chapter, we honour Ratcliffe’s legacy and the people working here, while embracing the future of cleaner and flexible energy. In this context, Uniper aims to invest in technologies like CCS, Renewables and hydrogen. The goal is to decarbonise our remaining power assets and to deliver low carbon fuel as well as green and reliable energy to our customers.”

Plant Manager Peter O’Grady said: “It is an emotional day for me as well as for the team. When I started my career 36 years ago, none of us imaged a future without coal generation in our lifetimes. I am incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved together over the years and to be part of this energy milestone as the country focuses on a cleaner energy future.”

Following closure, the site will go through a decommissioning process, which is expected to last around two years, before the site can be handed over to a demolition contractor.

Uniper UK Country chair Mike Lockett added: “Ratcliffe power station has played a key role in keeping the lights on over the past 57 years, and now we look to what could be the future for the site. As we mark the end of coal generation for Uniper in the UK, I’d like to thank all our colleagues, past and present who have worked hard to keep the power station delivering reliable power generation through the decades.”