IEA says electricity from coal plants has risen 9 per cent this year

• 2 years ago (2021-12-17)
• David Flin

Coal 274

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A report from the International Energy Agency (IEA) has indicated that coal-fired power generation is on track to reach an all-time high in 2022, with a surge of 9 per cent following increased demand after the Covid lockdowns.

Coal power fell by 4 per cent in 2020 due to the global economic slowdown caused by the Covid pandemic. Demand for electricity in 2021 has outpaced the growth in low-carbon sources. In addition, the IEA reports that the global gas supply crunch, which has caused record high prices worldwide, has helped increase demand for coal. The IEA report said that India was on track to increase coal-fired generation by 12 per cent this year, and that China would increase its use by 9 per cent.

Fatih Birol, Executive Director of the IEA, said: “Coal is the single largest source of global carbon emissions. This year’s historically high level of coal-fired power generation is a worrying sign of how far off-track the world is in its efforts to put emissions into decline towards net zero. Without strong and immediate actions by governments to tackle coal emissions, in a way that is fair, affordable, and secure for those affected, we will have little chance, if any at all, of limiting global warming to 1.5°C.”