Daily Times

LONDON: Britain went a full day without using coal to generate electricity for the first time since the Industrial Revolution, the National Grid says.

The energy provider said Friday’s lack of coal usage was a “watershed” moment.

Britain’s longest continuous energy period without coal until now was 19 hours – first achieved last May, and again on Thursday.

The government plans to phase out Britain’s last plants by 2025 in order to cut carbon emissions.

Friday is thought to be the first time the nation has not used coal to generate electricity since the world’s first centralised public coal-fired generator opened in 1882, at Holborn Viaduct in London.

Cordi O’Hara of the National Grid said, “To have the first working day without coal since the start of the industrial revolution is a watershed moment in how our energy system is changing.”

“The UK benefits from highly diverse and flexible sources of electricity. Our energy mix continues to change and National Grid adapts system operation to embrace these changes,” he added.

But O’Hara says that while the country makes the transition to a low carbon system, coal remains an important source of energy.

According to Gridwatch.co.uk, around half of British energy on Friday came from natural gas, with about a quarter coming from nuclear plants.