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The Guardian - UK
The Guardian - UK
Business
Alex Lawson

UK heatwave prompts National Grid to fire up coal plant to meet aircon demand

smoke bellows from the 8 huge chimneys
The Ratcliffe-on-Soar coal-fired power station. Its connection to the network on Monday ended a 46-day run in which coal has not been used to generate electricity in Britain. Photograph: Bill Allsopp/Alamy

National Grid has broken a 46-day run in which coal has not been used to generate electricity in Britain in order to meet extra demand for air conditioning as the country swelters in hot weather.

The grid’s electricity system operator (ESO) asked Uniper, the owner of Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in Nottinghamshire, to start producing power from the coal-fired plant, prompting criticism from green campaigners.

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