The phasing out of coal power is going too slowly
According to Global Energy Monitors, there is a decline in both operating and planned coal-fired power plants in the world. China is going the opposite way and means that the decline is minimal. China is planning new coal-fired power generation that almost offsets the decline in the rest of the world. This means that the phase-out must take place 4.5 times faster than today and new coal-fired power must not be planned in order to reach the goal of complete phase-out of coal-fired power by 2040.
Coal power must first be phased out in rich countries
The plan is for rich countries to phase out coal power first. 2030 is set as the end date. According to the report from Global Energy Monitors, the gas crisis and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have led to a temporary decrease in the phasing out of EU countries. This is because coal-fired power plants that were to be decommissioned were temporarily extended. The US is the country phasing out coal power the fastest with 13.5 GW in 2022.
In developing countries, there is primarily a decline in planned new coal power. The Global Energy Monitor describes the decline in production in rich countries and the decline in planned production in developing countries as gratifying. Joyful despite the problems with the gas crisis and the war in Ukraine. China is the negative factor that pulls the whole positive picture down. All the decline is offset by China’s enormous increase in the use of coal-fired power and the planning of new capacity. India is also sending different and unclear signals.
It’s urgent
According to the report, it is urgent to reverse the trend. For every increase in the capacity to produce coal-fired power in one place, corresponding cuts must be made elsewhere. At the current pace, the transition will not happen quickly enough to avoid climate chaos.
As I see it, it is primarily China that is the problem. China must stop planning new power based on coal. It seems that economic progress is causing China to turn a blind eye to environmental challenges.
Sources:
World must retire coal plants almost five times faster to meet climate goals – Global Energy Monitor