Major update on Ratcliffe Power Station decommissioning: What's happening at power station site in 2025?

Uniper's Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station which started generating in 1967, is set to undergo decommissioning for approximately two years.

NottinghamWorld contacted Uniper and bosses said the decommissioning is well under way following the site’s final coal generation on 30 September 2024.

Since then, teams have been working to safely dismantle and clear the facility, ensuring the transition is completed efficiently and responsibly.

Read more: A rare look inside Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station in Nottinghamshire

The closing date marked the ending of 142 years of British coal power and precipitating a two-year decommissioning process.

Uniper told us: “The process, known as making the station ‘cold and dark,’ began with a lengthy cooling down period for the turbines and boilers, followed by the safe removal of chemicals, fuel, and gases used in the generation process.

“The coal yard has been cleared, with a 20-tonne donation of coal made to the Papplewick Pumping Station Trust in November.”

Sean Atton, decommissioning manager, praised the progress made so far, stating: “Safety remains our highest priority. The work we are undertaking can be hazardous if not planned and executed well, but our professional teams are ensuring it is completed to the highest standards.

“I am really pleased with how decommissioning is progressing, and we’re ahead of the projected timescales for completion in many areas. So far, over 98% of waste removed from the site has been reused or recycled.”

With work moving faster than anticipated, the decommissioning team remains focused on ensuring the process is safe, efficient, and environmentally responsible.