A no-coal Christmas and New Year full of new energy technology
Did you know that in the UK it’s tradition to get a lump of coal in your Christmas stocking?
Such was once the need for this fossil energy source, it was common in the 1900s to give a lump of coal as a traditional gift to add some extra warmth to the fire. As we approach the festive period, National Grid estimates that 2020 may be our first coal free Christmas. With cleaner, more efficient energy generation paving the way for the energy transition.
With just a few remaining coal-fired stations left in the UK, it’s clear these giants of generation have had their day. Siemens Energy announced last month our intention to phase out support for new build coal-fired generation across our global operations as we lead the way to energise society using more sustainable, lower carbon generation.
Our first company sustainability report shows we are making good progress in achieving our aims of being a climate neutral company by 2030 and through partnering with our customers, helping to decarbonize operations across the globe.
The UK’s recently announced Ten Point Plan and subsequent Energy White Paper, set out a new frontier for industry, outlining how the UK will transition to a net-zero country by 2050. And with COP26 being hosted in the UK next year it looks as if it will be a turning point for the energy transition with a host of investment in green jobs, electric cars and a hydrogen economy. At Siemens Energy this is our focus; guiding our customers through the energy transition and converting our once fossil reliant turbines and transmission networks to run on hydrogen blended fuels.
There’s no doubt that coal helped build our country and shape industry, with massive generating power and a consistent, reliable base load through the industrial revolution. But as we move into the green revolution, we’re hoping for a coal-free Christmas. A clear sign that we are moving forward and investing in new, cleaner innovative ways of generating.
A lump of coal in a Christmas stocking is a nostalgic reminder of days gone by, but we hope it’s the only coal we see this Christmas.
Head of Sustainability and Environmental Governance at Siemens Energy
4 年It’s exciting to see the changes in the energy mix and the increasing opportunities to reduce carbon footprint of our homes. With the sunshine on Christmas Day we had enough solar power at home to power the oven and cook our turkey!
B&W Commissioning Management
4 年Let's see what happens on the day, UK coal plants have provided capacity every day this week thus far....maybe next Christmas?!
Director of Major Programmes, Siemens Mobility
4 年I hope you and your team receive more than a piece of coal for Christmas Steve, it’s great to hear about how things are changing in the energy sector
Senior business leader with global experience in the energy and industrial markets, growing businesses through building strong and resilient teams.
4 年It’s hard to believe that as someone bought up in a mining village in the 60s and 70s that there would be such a huge change in the energy mix in the UK never let us forget that the scrafices that were made by that generation that went “down the pit “'and all the support industry it generated Mining machinery , turbine manufacturing ,tunnelling equipment.I’m sure a lot of the miners would want to see cleaner the technologies for their children as they sat between the chokes on the coal face. So we are moving in the right direction but it remains a huge challenge ,as we say farewell to coal we sit here today with 41GW of demand 29GW being met by fossil fuels ( 7% of that by coal ) 12GW by low carbon and renewables ( 5%wind ) Just some thoughts as we all cut into our Christmas turkey