Here is a brief history of the coal production industry in the UK and where HouseFuel fits within such a fascinating industry.
The Rise of Coal Production in the UK
Between the 1910s & early 1920s, the coal industry in the UK was at its peak. During this time, coal was the essential lifeblood of the country as all of our significant industries relied on coal power, and over one million people were employed in the coal industry then.
Between the 1910s and early 1920s, coal production in the UK was at its peak. During this time, coal was the essential lifeblood of the country, with all of Britain's major industries relying on coal power. More than one million people were employed throughout the British coal mining industry, and British coal mines produced millions of tonnes of coal each year to fuel homes, factories and railways.
The Decline of the British Coal Mining Industry
The decline of UK coal production experienced after the Second World War was rapid. During the 1950s and 1960s, approximately one hundred British coal mines closed. In the 1980s, the government announced controversial plans to close 20 coal pits, leading to the famous year-long miners' strike.
The strike was ultimately unsuccessful in its goal, and so more closures followed, particularly in the late 1990s when the mines became privatised under the new name 'British coal'. Production gradually decreased as competition from cheaper imported coal arose, and more environmentally friendly power initiatives became mainstream, sounding the death knell for the coal mining industry in the UK.
Coal Production UK Today
According to the National Grid, Britain made history in April 2017 by going an entire day without using coal to generate electricity for the first time since the Industrial Revolution. This record was broken again in April 2018, when the country went 72 consecutive hours without coal-fired power generation. As the UK continues investing in renewable energy sources such as wind and solar, this trend is expected to
While coal production in the UK has fallen dramatically, coal still has an important role in domestic heating. The UK's deep pit British coal mines have been closed since 2015, and coal is now primarily imported for home heating rather than being produced domestically.
Although coal production in the UK is no longer on the scale it once was, many households still rely on coal and smokeless fuels to heat their homes. Replacing solid fuel appliances with alternative heating systems can involve significant cost and disruption, meaning demand for quality solid fuels continues across the country.
Housefuel’s Role Today
This is why HouseFuel was created as an e-commerce platform, making it easier for customers to purchase high-quality solid fuels wherever they live in the UK. Despite the decline in coal production in the UK, demand from domestic customers remains strong, and we have significantly increased our tonnage sales year on year over the past five years.
We source our products from trusted suppliers and value our relationships with both our suppliers and hauliers, allowing us to provide high-quality coal and smokeless fuels at competitive prices.
Are you looking for high-quality solid fuels for your home? Check out our products page. We offer a variety of coal depending on your appliance and smokeless fuel, ideal for those living in a smoke control zone.
