A recent report has revealed that the global addition of new coal capacity in 2024 reached its lowest level in two decades, yet the use of this fossil fuel is still surging in China and India. Coal remains a major contributor to global electricity production, accounting for just over a third of the total, and eliminating its use is crucial for achieving climate change targets.
According to the report, just 44 gigawatts (GW) of new coal power capacity was added worldwide last year, marking the lowest figure since 2004. The report was co-authored by several energy and environmental research organisations and NGOs. Christine Shearer of the Global Energy Monitor, one of the report’s authors, noted that last year signalled a shift for coal as the transition to clean energy accelerates. However, the report also highlighted that new coal capacity still exceeded the number of closures, leading to a net increase in the global coal fleet.
China saw a record number of new coal plants begin construction in 2024, while India also experienced a surge in new coal proposals. The report stressed the need for continued efforts to ensure that coal power is phased out in accordance with the Paris Agreement, especially in wealthier nations.
The International Energy Agency(IEA) predicts that global coal demand will plateau between 2024 and 2027, with declining use in developed nations being offset by growing consumption in emerging economies. China’s electricity sector, which accounts for a third of global coal consumption, remains a critical factor in global coal trends.
Although coal construction hit new records in China, the country saw a reduction in new permits compared to the levels witnessed in the previous two years. In Southeast Asia, coal proposals declined as several nations, including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Philippines, and Vietnam, have pledged to phase out coal use.
However, Japan and South Korea came under criticism for promoting questionable “decarbonisation” coal technologies both domestically and abroad. These technologies, such as co-firing with ammonia, are expensive and unlikely to deliver the significant emissions reductions needed for climate stability. Even when ammonia is used to replace some coal in power plants, it still results in higher carbon emissions compared to many alternative power generation methods.
The report also highlighted uncertainty around coal commitments in the US under Donald Trump’s return to office. Despite this, the authors noted that more coal plants were closed during Trump’s first term than under his predecessors, Barack Obama or Joe Biden. The report suggests that the economic viability of coal power in the US is declining, along with the ageing infrastructure of many coal plants.
