T<\/span>he National Grid was last night preparing to announce Britain\u2019s first full day without coal power \u201csince the Industrial Revolution\u201d.<\/p>\n A combination of low demand for electricity and an abundance of wind<\/a> meant officials were expecting the grid to complete 24 hours relying on just gas, nuclear and renewables.<\/p>\n Engineers at the company said Friday would mark a \u201chistoric\u201d milestone in Britain\u2019s shift away from carbon fuels, and that coal-free days would become increasingly common.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n U<\/span>se of the fossil fuel has significantly declined in recent years, accounting for just 9 per cent of electricity generation last year, down from 23 per cent in 2015, with the closure or conversion of coal plants.<\/p>\n The Government has pledged to phase out coal – the most polluting fossil fuel – from the system by 2025 as part of efforts to cut carbon emissions in the UK.<\/p>\n The electricity grid has been coal-free a number of times since spring last year, but until now the longest continuous period had been 19 hours, first achieved on a weekend last May.<\/p>\n Last night engineers were confidently expecting the grid to reach 10.50pm without needing to call on coal-generated power.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n T<\/span>he time would mark 24 hours since\u00a0West Burton 1 power station went offline on Thursday, the only one of Britain’s nine coal-burning plants<\/a> that was operating.<\/p>\n The \u201cwatershed\u201d moment marks the first day Britain\u2019s electricity system has survived without coal since the world\u2019s first centralised public coal-fired generator opened at Holborn Viaduct in London\u00a0in 1882.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cThe Industrial Revolution started with coal and it\u2019s been the absolute backbone of our power for most of the time since,\u201d said Duncan Burt, head of real-time operations at the National Grid.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a very proud moment for us to be there on the first day when we weren\u2019t burning coal.\u201d<\/p>\n H<\/span>e said he expected the grid to achieve more coal-free days as the summer progresses towards the period of low demand and high solar power in August, adding that overall demand for electricity was being tempered by more efficient homes and appliances.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\nIt\u2019s a very proud moment for us to be there on the first day when we weren\u2019t burning coal<\/q>Duncan Burt, National Grid<\/span><\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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