Coal Phase out in Britain, Lessons for India

Table of Contents

Context

The recent closure of Britain’s last coal-fired power plant in Nottinghamshire marks a significant milestone in the global energy transition, reflecting a broader shift away from coal.
However, this transition calls for replicating the U.K. ‘s coal phase-out globally and must consider the unique circumstances of developing nations.

Comparative Analysis: UK vs. India

Aspect	United Kingdom (U.K.)	India
Historical Context	The U.K. coal phase-out started with the Great Smog of London in 1952. ● Legislation: Clean Air Act of 1956. ● Shift to natural gas after discovery in 1965 (North Sea). ● Gradual decline in coal use over 70 years, intensified by economic and geopolitical factors. ● Margaret Thatcher’s government shut 20 coal mines in the 1980s, leading to economic and social challenges.	● First coal mine: Raniganj coalfield (1774). ● Large-scale extraction in eastern and central states like Jharkhand, West Bengal, Odisha, and Madhya Pradesh. ● Coal became India’s primary energy source with the Trombay power station (1956).
First Coal-Fired Power Plant	London (1882) – World’s first public coal-fired power plant.	Hussain Sagar Thermal Power Station (1920, Hyderabad).
Peak Coal Production	Peaked in the 1950s and 1960s when 90% of U.K. energy was generated from coal.	Peak production and consumption expected between 2030-2035.
Current Share of Coal in Energy Mix	Coal use declined to less than 20% of U.K. energy needs by 2023. Planned full phase-out by 2025.	70% of India’s energy comes from coal (218 GW of installed capacity in 2023).
Net Zero Target	U.K. aims to achieve net zero emissions by 2050.	India pledged to achieve net zero emissions by 2070. 50% of energy from renewables by 2050.
Carbon Emissions (2023)	384 million metric tonnes.	2.9 gigatons.
Per Capita Emissions (2023)	5.5 tonnes per person.	2 tonnes per person.
Historical Carbon Footprint	Cumulative emissions since 1850: 10.4 billion tonnes.	India’s emissions are still rising as coal consumption has not yet peaked.
Employment in the Coal Sector	U.K. coal employment peaked at 1.2 million miners in 1920. Currently, coal employment is minimal, with transitions to other sectors.	Direct employment for about 340,000 miners (2023). Likely to exceed 1 million workers at peak production by 2035.
Coal Mine and Power Plant Closures	Gradual closures with compensation and retraining programs in engineering, machinery, and energy sectors. Community redevelopment projects in former coal regions.	India has 350 operational coal mines and 120 new mines planned. No concrete timelines for mine closures yet.
Renewable Energy Transition	U.K. shifted to renewables, focusing on offshore wind farms and converting old coal plants (e.g., Drax plant repurposed for biomass).	Steady growth in renewables, but coal-fired energy continues to rise.
Energy Consumption (2022)	Per capita energy consumption: 3x higher than India’s, despite the Russia-Ukraine energy crisis.	Per capita energy consumption is significantly lower than the U.K.’s but is expected to grow as development progresses.

What are the Key Insights of the Comparison?

Historical Timeline: The U.K. began its coal phase-out process over 70 years ago, while India’s coal use is still on the rise, expected to peak around 2030-2035.
Per Capita Emissions: The U.K. has higher per capita emissions despite its small population, while India’s per capita emissions are low but will rise as industrialization progresses.
Employment and Economic Impact: Both countries heavily relied on coal for employment, but the U.K. has transitioned many workers into other sectors, while India’s coal workforce is still growing.
Transition Plans: The U.K. has a clear timeline for coal phase-out, with strong renewable projects in place. India, however, needs to set clear timelines for decommissioning coal plants and transitioning workers.

Lessons for India from Britain’s Transition

India’s approach must be tailored to its unique context:
- Establish clear timelines for decommissioning coal plants.
- Implement regional redevelopment programs to support economically vulnerable communities.
- Focus on retraining initiatives for workers transitioning from mining to renewable sectors.