Didcot A power station closes after 40 years

Coal-fired station provided electricity to millions of homes and businesses during its lifetime

A power station in Oxfordshire which has generated electricity for more than 40 years has closed today.

Energy giant RWE npower, who run the coal-fired Didcot A power station, announced the closure last September after it opted out of the EU's Large Combustion Plant Directive which aims to cut emissions across Europe.

The 2,000MW coal-fired station will officially close on 31 March. A nine month decommissioning process will then start, followed by demolition which is expected to take several years to complete.

During its lifetime the power station has provided electricity to millions of homes and businesses across the UK and contributed millions of pounds to the local economy.

Phil Noake, Didcot A power station manager, said: “This is a sad time for everyone at the power station, but I'm very proud of what we've achieved over the past 42 years. I would like to personally thank all those in the local community who have supported us over the years, and thank our staff for their continued dedication and wish them success for their future.”