UK records longest stretch ever without coal-fired power

Britain has broken its record of longest period of time without the use of coal-fired power as it registered 18 consecutive days in which the plants have not contributed to the generation of electricity.

It is the longest period of time since the Industrial revolution in 1882, said National Grid on Tuesday.

This is partly due to the fall in demand from schools, shops, factories and restaurants that are closed down temporarily due to the coronavirus lockdown. It is also partly due to the rise in popularity of solar power.

The 18-day stretch has broken the UK’s previous record, which was set on 4 June 2019. The reduction has come a long way since two years back when it recorded the first 24h for the first time.

This feat also meets a new solar power record that was broke on 20 April after farms generated over 9.6GW of electricity for the first time.

The collapse of coal and rise of renewable energy sources led to a fall in CO2 emissions from the UK power sector. Since 2012, the amount of emissions required to produce one kilowatt hour of energy declined by more than two-thirds, from 507g of CO2 to 161g.