Global coal-power capacity reached a new high last year, driven by a surge in new plants in China and a slowdown in retirements globally, as reported by Global Energy Monitor. The world's coal fleet increased by 2% to 2,130 gigawatts, with China contributing the majority of the growth, followed by Indonesia and India. China's construction of 70 gigawatts of new coal plants in 2020 was nearly 20 times more than the combined rest of the world.
Key Takeaways
- Global coal-power capacity reached a record high, mainly due to new plants in China.
- The world’s coal fleet grew by 2% to 2,130 gigawatts, with China accounting for about two thirds of the increase.
- China initiated the construction of 70 gigawatts of new coal plants last year, significantly more than the rest of the world combined.
- There was a notable decline in retirements of coal plants around the world.
- India and Indonesia also had significant contributions to the increase in global coal-power capacity.
News Content
Global coal-power capacity reached a record high last year, driven by a surge in new plants in China and a slowdown in retirements globally, as reported by Global Energy Monitor. The world's coal fleet increased by 2% to 2,130 gigawatts, with China contributing two-thirds of the rise, followed by Indonesia and India. Notably, China initiated construction on 70 gigawatts of new coal plants, nearly 20 times more than the rest of the world combined.
Analysis
The surge in global coal-power capacity, driven by China's construction of 70 gigawatts of new coal plants, has significant implications. This trend may result in increased carbon emissions, impacting climate change initiatives and air quality. The expansion could benefit companies involved in coal production and power plant construction, yet pose challenges for renewable energy sectors. Furthermore, China's dominance in this growth could prompt geopolitical and economic shifts, reshaping global energy dynamics. In the long term, environmental concerns, regulatory changes, and technological advancements may influence the sustainability of coal power. This upsurge demands attention from environmental organizations, energy companies, and policymakers worldwide.
Do You Know?
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Global coal-power capacity:
- Explanation: Refers to the total potential power output from coal-fired power plants around the world.
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Gigawatts (GW):
- Explanation: A unit of power equal to one billion watts, commonly used to measure the capacity of power plants.
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China's coal fleet:
- Explanation: Refers to the total capacity of coal-fired power plants in China.