Over the past two decades, the UK's carbon dioxide emissions have consistently declined, dropping by approximately 41% from 2000 to 2022, with the most significant reductions coming from the power sector [UK emissions data from IEA. Shaanxi Province emissions are calculated by iGDP based on the Energy Statistical Yearbook for energy-related carbon dioxide emissions.]. By 2024, the carbon intensity of the UK grid is expected to fall to around 125 gCO2eq/kWh, marking a historic low. This is primarily due to a landmark shift in the UK's power structure: the complete phase-out of coal-fired power, a rapid decline in the share of thermal power, and the swift rise of renewable energy.
The UK has officially ended its 142-year history of coal-fired power generation. On September 30, 2024, the UK closed its last coal power plant—the Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in Nottinghamshire—making it the first major economy to fully exit coal power.
On the other hand, the share of renewable energy has significantly increased. According to the latest study released by the UK National Energy System Operator (NESO) in January 2025, wind power became the UK's largest source of electricity in 2024, accounting for 30% of the total.