The world’s appetite for coal remains strong. New coal-fired power plants are projected to hit a decade high in 2025, despite the criticisms from environmentalists who advocate for alternatives like wind, solar, and hydropower.
Factors such as increasing gas prices and supply uncertainties from the Middle East have led countries like China, Indonesia, India, Japan, South Korea, Germany, and Italy to increasingly rely on coal for energy security, even as global coal power generation is currently on a downward trend.
One study indicates that coal-fired power generation capacity rose by 3.5% last year, according to a report from Global Energy Monitor (GEM), which has been monitoring coal power generation for over ten years.
Interestingly, around 95% of this growth is concentrated in China and India. The United States, under President Donald Trump, has also embraced coal, promoting it as “beautiful, clean coal.”
The president mentioned that his administration approved over 70 permits for new mining projects, a stark contrast to the Biden administration, which has not approved any during its tenure.
The report notes the Chinese government views coal as a reliable backup for inconsistent renewable energy supplies, especially following past power shortages.
In India, the need for coal-fired power generation is critical to satisfy the rising electricity demand of its growing population.
In Africa, interest in coal is resurfacing, with new proposals mainly in Zimbabwe and Zambia, which account for around two-thirds of coal developments in the region.
Globally, the retirement of coal-fired power plants has slowed, with nearly 70% of scheduled closures actually remaining in operation, as noted by GEM.
In Europe, missed retirement targets mainly stemmed from decisions made during the energy crisis that erupted following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.
In contrast, delays in plant retirements in the U.S. reflect a consistent government stance that supports coal as a means of maintaining energy independence.
“U.S. coal-fired power generation has risen by over 80 TWh (terawatt hours) year-on-year—a figure unmatched by any other country,” said Kristin Shearer, project manager for GEM’s Global Coal-fired Power Plant Tracker and co-author of the report.
This increase isn’t just due to rising demand; it speaks to a policy environment that actively promotes coal usage, she added.
For the complete GEM coal report, read here
