By Katie Pavid
First published 15 June 2020
Britain has gone more than two months without burning coal for electricity, the longest period since the dawn of the Industrial Revolution.
The National Grid last used electricity from the UK's coal-fired power stations on 10 April 2020. During April and May, renewables and gas were the biggest sources of energy.
The reasons for the drop in coal use are complicated, and lockdown measures necessitated by the COVID-19 pandemic certainly contributed. As many people stayed at home, avoiding offices and public transport, demand for energy dropped by about 20%. Britain's four remaining coal-fired power plants were the first thing to be shut down.
Britain's carbon dioxide emissions have dropped too, as coal burning is one of the dirtiest forms of energy production and it drives climate change.
Richard Herrington, Head of Earth Sciences at the Museum, says, 'This is great news, as coal has the largest carbon footprint per kilowatt-hour of electricity produced.
'It is a sign of us both reducing usage of electricity at this time of year but also likely reflects the increase in renewables in the sector, especially solar and wind power.'
NHM |
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