Data shows that global coal power capacity is expected to increase in 2024.
Global Energy Monitor, a U.S.-based think tank, reported on Thursday that the world's coal power fleet increased by 18,8 gigawatts, its smallest increase in over two decades. However, new additions to China and India continue to offset closures in other countries.
GEM's annual report on coal plant tracking said that despite a record-breaking surge in renewables last year, 12 countries commissioned 44 GW worth of new coal energy, which was higher than the retirements of 25.2 GW.
Global coal generation capacity has increased by 13% to 2,143 GW since the Paris Climate Agreement was signed almost a decade ago.
China, the largest energy consumer in the world, put 30.5 GW of coal into operation last, which is more than 70%. This was still less than the 47.4 GW China will add in 2023.
Researchers said this year that the number of new buildings in China in 2024 was at its highest level in over a decade.
Christine Shearer of GEM’s Coal Plant Tracker Programme said, "It is clear that Chinese coal interests are continuing to build and pursue new coal plants. This is enabled by the government's lax enforcement of their own guidelines and commitments."
Shearer said that while China claims to be building coal plants in order to support its wind and solar power, the majority of these new projects are located in areas with more than enough coal fired capacity.
GEM data shows that India's coal power increased by 5.6GW in 2024 compared to 5.5GW in 2023. Indonesia, Bangladesh Pakistan, South Korea, and the Philippines were also amongst those countries to launch new plants in 2024.
GEM has warned that certain countries, such as the U.S.A., are delaying plans to phase-out old plants.
Shearer stated that "retirement delays occur primarily in countries where there is not enough clean energy being produced to cover retirements."
The International Renewable Energy Agency reported last week that renewables added 585 GW of capacity last year. This is up 15% from 2023, and represents 92.5% all global additions to capacity.
It will need to grow by 16.6% per year over the next decade to reach the 2030 target of tripled capacity.
Rana Adib of the Paris-based Renewable Energy Policy Alliance REN21, executive director, says that energy transition cannot keep pace with the rising demand for electricity.
She said that renewable energy is not allowed to replace fossil energy, but it does meet the increasing energy demand. (Reporting and editing by David Stanway)
(source: Reuters)
