News UK ends coal powered electric generation.

[Notebook]

Ratcliffe-on-Soar: UK's last coal-fired power station set to close

Ratcliffe-on-Soar, which has been producing energy since 1967, will shut next week.

www.bbc.co.uk

At the other end of the time-line, the first coal-powered generating station un the UK.

Holborn Viaduct power station - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Had to be Mr. Edison of course.

 

[Urwumpe]

Pretty late, considering that UK has almost no coal left and must import it.

 

[Notebook]

There is some under the North Sea, but that would be expensive. All the easy stuff is gone.

 

[Urwumpe]

Yeah, but now tell me: How can I explain German mass media, that the end of coal in the british electricity sector was not because "they have nuclear power plants", but actually gas and wind? Its insane how much they twist the truth again.

Electricity production in the United Kingdom

An interactive visualization from Our World in Data.

ourworldindata.org

 

[jedidia]

What the hell happened in 84?

 

[Urwumpe]

What the hell happened in 84?

Van Halen released MCMLXXXIV.

Oh, and the British coal miners strike.

1984–1985 United Kingdom miners' strike - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

 

[Phil Smith]

Van Halen released MCMLXXXIV.

Oh, and the British coal miners strike.

1984–1985 United Kingdom miners' strike - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

Nah, it was in America. We had a new Iron Maiden release called Powerslave! haha

 

[APDAF]

Pretty late, considering that UK has almost no coal left and must import it.

We have lots and lots of coal still with quite a lot of it being some of the highest grade coal in the world.

We just stopped mining it.

 

[TheShuttleExperience]

We have lots and lots of coal still with quite a lot of it being some of the highest grade coal in the world.

We just stopped mining it.

Well, GB has only a few years left, at consumption rate of recent years.

United Kingdom Coal Reserves and Consumption Statistics - Worldometer

Current and historical Reserves, Production, and Consumption of Natural Coal in the United Kingdom. Global rank and share of world's total. Data, Statistics and Charts.

www.worldometers.info

But people always look at electricity only. The total energy consumption in GB (like in most developed countries I think) is still provided by gas and oil for the most part (I guess over 70%). So, of course the exit from coal is partly used for "Green marketing".

 

[Urwumpe]

But people always look at electricity only. The total energy consumption in GB (like in most developed countries I think) is still provided by gas and oil for the most part (I guess over 70%). So, of course the exit from coal is partly used for "Green marketing".

In primary energy terms, its actually 80%.

But its still "greener" than coal. Cleaner combustion, more stable combustion over a wider range of performance, easier to maintain or operate... but also more expensive than coal.

 

[TheShuttleExperience]

In primary energy terms, its actually 80%.

But its still "greener" than coal. Cleaner combustion, more stable combustion over a wider range of performance, easier to maintain or operate... but also more expensive than coal.

Yeah. Coal isn't the very best way for energy consumption. On the other hand, our "economic miracle" after WWII was significantly based on it, the "black gold". Especially here in the Ruhr area. But if I look at the Ruhr area today, and compare with the mid-20th century, I'd prefer the present...



Actually it got very nice here. There is still industry, but by far not in the scale of the 1950s and 1960s. Most smokestacks are gone.

Also interesting (sadly only in German):

 

[Thunder Chicken]

It seems that the UK is also phasing out coke for steel manufacturing as steel manufacturing is in decline.

 

[Notebook]

Yes, one of the largest steel blast furnaces is closing down.

Tata Steel: Can Port Talbot survive change?

The last blast furnace in the town shut down on Monday marking the end of traditional steelmaking there.

www.bbc.co.uk

It will be replaced by an electric furnace which I understand uses scrap metal, but can't make new steel.

 

[Urwumpe]

It will be replaced by an electric furnace which I understand uses scrap metal, but can't make new steel.

Its possible to use hydrogen for a new kind of direct reduction blast furnace. The needed 900°C for the reaction can also be produced electrically, but burning gas (including hydrogen) is likely cheaper for large volumes of steel. As I understand though, all European steel mills switch from refining iron ore to recycling scrap, since most iron ore must be imported.

 

[Phil Smith]

TBH, it's sad to see those big mills bite a dust.. We are talking about being environmentally friendly, but all we do it's just shutting down our local industrial giants (kicking out thousands of workers as a part of a course) and outsource all that “dirty” stuff to eastern Europe (or Asia). I reckon Poland is the biggest source of steel in Europe now, but no concerns regarding their ecology situation. Not mentioning those endless African landfills full of those junk consumer electronics. Just imho, sorry for a rant

 

[Urwumpe]

TBH, it's sad to see those big mills bite a dust.. We are talking about being environmentally friendly, but all we do it's just shutting down our local industrial giants (kicking out thousands of workers as a part of a course) and outsource all that “dirty” stuff to eastern Europe (or Asia). I reckon Poland is the biggest source of steel in Europe now, but no concerns regarding their ecology situation. Not mentioning those endless African landfills full of those junk consumer electronics. Just imho, sorry for a rant

Yes, but blame neoliberal capitalism there. Producing steel is nothing that requires expensive skilled workers. And even the skilled workers are cheaper elsewhere. Of course its insane, if you think about it.

Its like butchering the calves instead of feeding them and letting them grow to cattle. Unemployed workers don't consume much, if this continues, the only people who could pay taxes here are the billionaires who will not live where their cheap workers live....

Or pay taxes.