The Ratcliffe-on-Soar plant, which began operating in 1968 in central England, includes eight concrete cooling towers and a 199m-high chimney. (Source: AP)

Uniper's Ratcliffe-on-Soar in the Midlands became the last UK coal plant to end its life after more than half a century on 30 September, but many staff will remain with the business during its two-year winding-up.

London said the plant's closure was a milestone in its efforts to reach renewable energy production by 2030. The event made Britain the first G7 country to completely phase out coal plants.

“Ten years ago, coal was the UK’s main source of energy, accounting for a third of the country’s electricity,” said Dhara Vyas, deputy chief executive of trade body Energy UK.

UK Energy Secretary Michael Shanks said the plant's closure "marks the end of an era and coal workers can be proud of their work in powering the country for more than 140 years".

Edison, the world's first coal-fired power plant, opened in London in 1882. In 1990, around 80% of the UK's electricity came from coal. By 2012, that figure had fallen to 39%, and by 2023, just 1%.

More than half of the UK's electricity now comes from renewable sources such as wind and solar, with the rest coming from natural gas and nuclear power.