Britain has gone two weeks without using coal power for the first time since the industrial revolution, smashing its previous record of eight days set earlier this month.
The milestone, which will be reached at 3.12pm on Friday, marks the only coal-free fortnight since the world’s first coal-powered plant opened in London in 1882.
The National Grid said the record was assured, since coal plants take six hours to warm up and become available on the system - too long to use by the end of Friday afternoon. It comes just two years after the UK marked its first full day without burning the fossil fuel.
Fintan Slye, National Grid electricity system operator, said: “As more and more renewables come onto the system, we’re seeing things progress at an astonishing rate. We also broke our solar record for Britain this month – with one day seeing over a quarter of the country powered by the sun.”
While 2018 was the “greenest year to date” for Britain’s electricity supply, 2019 has the potential to beat it, Mr Slye added.
Source: Independent