Coal Production in the UK fell to a record low in the previous year following the closure of all deep coal mines while others approaching the end of their operational life.
Britain’s Primary energy production rose by 1.4% Y-o-Y earlier to 126.2 MnT of oil equivalent. The increase in energy production was the second highest since 1999, due to rise in oil and gas output. Energy production was marginally above the levels of 2012. According to the provisional data released by The Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS).
While production of Oil, Gas, Renewable energy and nuclear output all increasing on yearly basis. Production of coal fell by 51%, to a new record low. In the last five years, coal output has declined by 77%. The fall in coal output resulted from the closure of all deep coal mines in Britain.
Kellingley Colliery, a deep mine coal mine in North Yorkshire, England, owned and operated by UK Coal, was closed on18 Dec’15, marking the end of deep-pit coal mining in Britain.
Source: Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
Energy Generation in the UK:
Energy Generation from coal was hampered by fall in coal production plus the continual increase in coal prices making coal-fired generation expensive in comparison to gas-fired generation. Of the total energy generated, Coal accounted for only 9.3% in 2016, down from 25% in 2015, first-time coal’s contribution has dropped below 10%.
UK power prices declined which forced their major power generator Drax to shut down its three coal units for most of the summer period in 2016, along with the closure of Ferrybridge C and Longannet Power stations.
Drax, a coal-fired plant in North Yorkshire, England, with generating capacity of 3960 MW (6×660 MW) is the highest power station in the UK. It provides about 7% of the UK’s electricity supply.
Power generation from Drax decline by 26% Y-o-Y to 19.6 TWh (TeraWatt Hour) in 2016 compared with 26.7 TWh in 2015.
Due to low power prices, the power major has converted three units out of the six 660 MW units into firewood pellets. The biomass produced 12.7 TWh in 2016 against 11.5 TWh in 2015, thus accounting 65% of total Drax’s output.
Coal which has played a critical role in supplying energy need in the UK contributed just 9.3% of Britain’s electricity in 2016, down from 42% in 2012.
Source: Department of Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy (BEIS)
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