Drax Group (LSE:DRX) and EDF have both confirmed the closure of coal power units used as back-ups last year, according to National Grid PLC (LSE:NG.)’s system operating wing (ESO).
Uniper’s Ratcliffe power station will remain as the UK’s sole operating coal plant, with both Drax and EDF now having begun the process of decommissioning sites at their West Burton and North Yorkshire power stations.
Discussions had been held with both Drax and EDF at the request of the government to keep the coal stations open, the ESO said.
“Both operators have confirmed that they will not be able to […] and have begun the decommissioning process,” the operator added.
Five contingency coal plants were kept from shutting last winter as the ESO worked to prevent blackouts amid squeezed supply in the wake of the Ukraine war.
The cost of maintaining and running the plants past their original retirement dates was estimated to have been £395mln by the ESO, which hinted earlier this month that households would again be paid to cut energy usage this winter.
Coal purchased to power the plants is now being sold meanwhile, the ESO added, with the back-up plants having been warmed a handful of times but only used to produce power once by March.