Ireland shuts last coal plant, becomes 15th coal-free country in Europe

Ireland shut down its last coal plant, the 915 MW Moneypoint facility in County Clare, becoming the 15th coal-free country in Europe. The plant, originally commissioned in the mid-1980s, will remain on standby burning heavy fuel oil under emergency conditions until 2029. Ireland now generates 37% of its electricity from wind, with solar also growing. Environmental groups welcomed the milestone but warned that Ireland still needs to address gas dependency, limit oil backup use at Moneypoint, and curb data center expansion that increases fossil gas reliance. Italy and mainland Spain are also expected to declare themselves coal-free this summer.