China’s transition from coal might be key to assembly international local weather targets.
The world added the smallest quantity of latest coal capability in twenty years final yr, a report mentioned Thursday, however use of the fossil gas remains to be surging in China and India.
Coal accounts for simply over a 3rd of world electrical energy manufacturing and phasing it out is key to assembly local weather change targets.
Simply 44 gigawatts (GW) of latest coal power capability was produced globally final yr, the bottom determine since 2004, in keeping with the report by a bunch of energy- and environment-focused analysis organizations and NGOs.
“Last year was a harbinger of things to come for coal as the clean energy transition moves full speed ahead,” mentioned Christine Shearer of the International Power Monitor, which co-authored the report.
However new capability nonetheless outstripped coal closures, which means a web improve within the international coal fleet, the report famous.
China started development on a file variety of coal plants final yr.
Final yr additionally noticed a file variety of new coal proposals in India, the report warned.
“Work is still needed to ensure coal power is phased out in line with the Paris climate agreement, particularly in the world’s wealthiest nations,” Shearer mentioned.
‘Doubtful’ coal applied sciences
The Worldwide Power Company (IEA) says international coal demand will plateau from 2024-2027, with declining use in developed nations largely offset by progress in rising economies.
China’s electrical energy sector accounts for a 3rd of all coal consumed worldwide, in keeping with the IEA, making its transition from the gas key to international tendencies.
Whereas coal development hit file highs in China final yr, new permits within the nation fell again from the breakneck ranges seen the 2 years prior, the report mentioned.
And in Southeast Asia, the place coal has powered rising economies like Indonesia, new proposals for the fossil gas have declined.
That’s the results of varied offers and pledges in Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines and Vietnam to part out using coal, the report mentioned.
However amongst rich economies, Japan and South Korea have been singled out for his or her promotion of “dubious ‘decarbonization’ coal technologies domestically and abroad.”
The report warned these applied sciences are “expensive and unlikely to deliver the deep emission cuts needed for climate stability.”
Chief amongst them is co-firing with ammonia at coal-powered crops. Substituting ammonia for a number of the coal utilized in a plant can scale back emissions, however ammonia’s emissions profile will depend on how it’s produced.
And even co-firing with low-emissions ammonia nonetheless produces extra carbon dioxide than many different energy technology applied sciences, the report warned.
The teams additionally flagged uncertainty over coal commitments in the US after Donald Trump returned to the presidency.
However they identified that extra coal crops have been shut throughout Trump’s first time period than underneath his predecessor Barack Obama, or successor Joe Biden.
“Trump’s first term shows the difficulty of counteracting the declining economic feasibility of coal power in the US, coupled with the advanced age of the country’s coal plants,” the report mentioned.
© 2025 AFP
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New coal capability hit 20-year low in 2024: report (2025, April 3)
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