The UK has gone two weeks without any coal-fired energy generation, with energy prices falling dramatically as a result. But the government is still pushing ahead with plans to build more coal power stations, despite warnings from experts that they will be too expensive and not enough of them can be built in time for 2030. May also saw the longest recorded period of negative pricing, with average wholesale prices falling to around -£12/MWh during an 11-hour period. The decline, described as "extraordinary" by one energy company, meant that the UK's average carbon intensity fell to 179g CO2/kWh, with the country aiming to reduce the figure to 100g CO2/kWh by 2032.
The UK has gone two weeks without any coal-fired energy generation, with energy prices falling dramatically as a result. There were more coal-free hours in May 2019 than all of 2017, with average prices for one week falling YoY from £57.6 ($72.9)/MWh to £28/MWh. May also saw the longest recorded period of negative pricing, with average wholesale prices falling to around -£12/MWh during an 11-hour period. The decline, described as "extraordinary" by one energy company, meant that the UK's average carbon intensity fell to 179g CO2/kWh, with the country aiming to reduce the figure to 100g CO2/kWh by 2032.