Global coal power surges 2%, China a leading contributor
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The world’s coal-fired power capacity saw a record 2% increase last year, primarily fueled by new constructions in China and delays in decommissioning elsewhere, according to a report by Global Energy Monitor on Thursday.
Coal-power capacity commissioned during 2023 reached 69.5 GW, while only 21.1 GW was retired, resulting in a net annual increase of 48.4 GW, According to the report.
Most of this increase in coal-fired capacity occurred in the Asia Pacific region, particularly China, which accounted for about two-thirds, or 47.4 GW, of the added capacity during the year.
The coal construction surge in China starkly contrasts global trends and undermines the progress made elsewhere, the author of the report said.
Countries that have coal plants to retire need to do so more quickly, and countries that have plans for new coal plants must make sure these are never built; otherwise, we can forget about meeting our goals in the Paris Agreement, said Flora Champenois, GEM coal program director.
Also read: Renewable energy growth falls short of climate targets, says leading think tank
Outside of China, coal-fired capacity grew for the first time since 2019, with a net increase of 4.7 GW.
Climate scientists have pointed out that all coal plants must be phased out by 2040, unless fitted with effective carbon-removal technology, to limit global temperatures to within 1.5 degrees Celsius of pre-industrialised levels.
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