French utility EDF said that it had reached an industrial milestone in the implementation of a fuel process known as Ecocombust to replace coal in power generation.
Germany’s Coal Commission has announced that it reached agreement on a phase out use of coal in the country by 2038 at the latest, possibly by 2035 if conditions prove favourable.
France’s electricity grid operator RTE has said that a strike in the French power sector has reduced generation at EDF’s 1300 MW St Alban 1 nuclear reactor by around 80 per cent.
Renewables have overtaken coal as Germany’s main source of energy for the first time, accounting for just over 40 per cent of electricity production.
The Canadian Government has announced details on how it plans to phase out coal power in Canada by 2030.
Data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA) of the USA showed that coal-fired power generation totalled 87.98 GWh in October, down 9.6 per cent from September, and down 2.6 per cent from October 2017.
The European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD) has adopted a strategic plan that rules out direct financing of coal plants and mines, despite opposition to this move from the USA.
America’s EPA has proposed eliminating the requirement that new coal-fired generation incorporate carbon capture technology.
Endesa of Spain has said that it plans to continue to operate its remaining coal and nuclear plants beyond 2030, and that it plans to finish one more retrofit and to install new battery units, while closing two units in 2020.
South Korea capped operations of some coal- and oil-fired power plants at 80 per cent on 7 November, as most cities, including the capital Seoul, issued an air pollution advisory.