UK’s last coal plant could be repurposed into a giant battery

As the UK closes its final coal-fired power station, the site may gain a second life as storage for renewable energy, marking a major shift in the nation’s transition toward decarbonization.

Michael Marshall reports for the BBC.

In short:

• The Ratcliffe-on-Soar power plant, the UK's last coal-fired station, ceased operations in September 2024, marking the end of coal-based energy generation in the UK.
• Energy companies are turning defunct fossil fuel sites, like Ferrybridge C in West Yorkshire, into battery energy storage systems (BESS) to store excess renewable energy for future use.
• BESS technology is essential for overcoming the intermittency challenges of renewable energy sources, and the UK must significantly increase its battery storage capacity to meet decarbonization goals.

Key quote:

"In the last 20 years, this technology has improved a lot. The control is more precise, and also the cost has decreased."

— Grazia Todeschini, electrical engineer at King's College London

Why this matters:

These “energy banks” are one key to smoothing out the ups and downs of renewables, keeping power flowing even when nature doesn’t cooperate. Read more: We don’t have time for another fossil fuel bridge.