Coal power drops record 3%

Electricity generated from coal-fired plants is set to fall by a record 3% this year, raising chances for slowing global carbon dioxide emissions growth, according to a report released by Carbon Brief.

The global usage rate for coal-fired generation this year is about 54%, which suggests that electricity from the plants, which are built to run at or near capacity for extended periods, is more expensive, according to the report written by researchers from several climate research groups, including the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air. The decline comes even as new coal-fired generation capacity in places including China and Southeast Asia is rising.

“The global average utilisation of coalfired power plants is on track to hit an alltime low this year,” the analysts wrote. “Such a low utilisation rate also implies the electricity they generate is more expensive, as capital costs are paid for by output during fewer running hours.”

The decline equates to about 300 terawatt hours, more than the total amount of power coming from coal in Germany, Spain and UK in 2018. The drop is a result of several big US plants shutting, a decline in India’s coal power generation and as output growth for the fuel in China slows, according to the analysis, which used power sector data for the first seven to 10 months of the year.

Increased electricity output from clean generation and slowing or declining demand growth also played a role, the report said. China saw the first contracts this year for wind and solar that will generate power at the same price as coal.

Coal is one of the biggest polluters. Last year, a 3% increase in carbon dioxide emissions from power generation was responsible for 50% of the global increase in fossil fuel emissions.

– Bloomberg