March 31, 2016

Scotland Is Now Coal-Free after More Than a Century

The last coal-fired power plant in Scotland has been shut down as the system moves toward renewables

*Photo of* *Longannet Power State in 2011 by John* (*CC4.0*)

Join Our Community of Science Lovers!

This article was published in Scientific American’s former blog network and reflects the views of the author, not necessarily those of Scientific American

At 3pm on March 24, the last coal-fired power plant in Scotland was taken out of service. The 2.4 Gigawatt (GW) Longanett Power Station in Fife, north of Edinburgh, had been in operation since 1969. Its closure is a significant step toward Scotland’s goal of supplying 100% of its electricity demand using renewables by 2020.

When it came into service, Longanett Power Station was the largest power plant in Europe and it would go on to burn through more than 177 million tonnes of coal over its lifetime. The closure was announced last summer after by Scottish Power, who cited high grid connection charges as the major reason for its closure. According to Neil Clitherow, chief executive of retail and generation at Scottish Power, the company had “explored every potential option to keep the station open” but that the conditions just weren’t right.

In 2015, more than half (57.7%) of electricity consumed in Scotland was produced using renewables, up from 32% in 2013 and reflecting tremendous growth in wind power in Scotland.

On supporting science journalism

If you're enjoying this article, consider supporting our award-winning journalism by subscribing. By purchasing a subscription you are helping to ensure the future of impactful stories about the discoveries and ideas shaping our world today.

*Credit: The Scottish Government.* *“Energy in Scotland 2015*"

It’s Time to Stand Up for Science

If you enjoyed this article, I’d like to ask for your support. Scientific American has served as an advocate for science and industry for 180 years, and right now may be the most critical moment in that two-century history.

I’ve been a Scientific American subscriber since I was 12 years old, and it helped shape the way I look at the world. SciAm always educates and delights me, and inspires a sense of awe for our vast, beautiful universe. I hope it does that for you, too.

If you subscribe to Scientific American, you help ensure that our coverage is centered on meaningful research and discovery; that we have the resources to report on the decisions that threaten labs across the U.S.; and that we support both budding and working scientists at a time when the value of science itself too often goes unrecognized.

In return, you get essential news, captivating podcasts, brilliant infographics, can't-miss newsletters, must-watch videos, challenging games, and the science world's best writing and reporting. You can even gift someone a subscription.

There has never been a more important time for us to stand up and show why science matters. I hope you’ll support us in that mission.

Thank you,

David M. Ewalt, Editor in Chief, Scientific American