Czech energy company EPH has confirmed the closure of its 565 MW Kilroot coal-fired power plant in Northern Ireland, Europe Beyond Coal announced on May 12. The announcement comes amid the UK's largest coal-free operation (32 days), breaking its previous record of 18 consecutive days since it started burning coal for coal production ; electricity in 1882.
According to Europe Beyond Coal, Kilroot is not living up to the UK government's commitment to phase out coal which will close factories by 2024. But the UK's very effective carbon pricing policy, combined to the rapid growth of its renewable energy market and the pollution limits set by the European directive on industrial emissions mean that the factory is no longer financially viable.
"Global demand for coal energy is declining rapidly and has been declining in Europe for several years. The end of coal burning at Kilroot is part of this larger story, "said Kathrin Gutmann, Beyond Coal campaign director. "While no one would welcome the reasons for the continued decline in energy demand and pollution that we are currently seeing, this offers us an unprecedented opportunity to build a more resilient economy with a renewable energy sector at its heart. "
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EPH says it plans to convert Kilroot from coal-fired electricity production after obtaining a contract after the T-4 capacity auction for the single market the island of ireland. EPH has not specified when the production of coal-fired electricity will end at the plant, nor when the conversion to gas-fired electricity production will be completed.
“Gas should not be seen as a climate-friendly alternative to coal; its high methane content is 34 times more heat trapping than CO2, "said Gutmann." We must make smart investments for the good of our economies, our health and our climate. The UK has already embarked on a 2050 net zero carbon emissions strategy. You should make decisions that lead directly to it, rather than wasting precious time and money burning more fossil fuels. "