Fresh Signs of Coal's Staying Power
September 28, 2022 - Recent analyses and news reports together provide the latest evidence that coal's huge role in the global energy mix won't greatly erode soon, Ben writes.
Why it matters: Coal's the most CO2-heavy fuel and pathways coming even close to Paris Agreement goals require a steep decline. But that's not happening globally, despite drops in some nations.
Driving the news: A few items on my screen help tell the story...
- A note this morning from the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air (CREA) finds that China's permitting of new coal plants sped up in the first half of 2022. China is by far the world's largest coal user.
- NPR reports that in Germany, amid the loss of Russian gas supplies, "at least 20 coal-fired power plants nationwide are being resurrected or extended past their closing dates."
- The International Energy Agency's latest "Tracking Clean Energy Progress" report finds that coal's share of total global power generation rebounded back above 36% last year.
Yes, but: Getting back to China, the CREA report with Global Energy Monitor points out that despite the permitting increase, initiations of new construction and completions slowed down.
- In addition, China's climate targets mean some new capacity could be unused or "stranded."
- Nonetheless: "The presence of large amounts of newly built coal-based capacity complicates the transition economically and politically."
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