Global coal consumption hits new record high in 2021… China, India consume 2/3 – Strong increase thanks to that?
Via P Gosselin above 23. January 2022
Follow The International Energy Agency (IEA) Coal Report 2021, coal-fired power generation hits an all-time high in 2021, soaring 9% in 2021.
Chart source: IEA
The increase was driven by a rapid economic recovery. Globally, a total of 10,350 terawatt-hours of electricity are generated from coal.
Even worse from a climate protection standpoint, the IEA report says that global coal demand could hit a new all-time high in the next two years and will likely stay close to this level for several years. next.
More than 600 new coal-fired power plants are planned in Asia.
The IEA says China and India now account for two-thirds of global coal consumption, despite efforts to expand renewables and other low-carbon energy sources.
“Without strong and immediate action by governments to tackle coal emissions – in a way that is fair, affordable and safe for those affected – we will have very little, if any yes, the chance of limiting global warming to 1.5°C,” said IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol.
The IEA’s report comes just over a month after the conclusion of the COP 26 climate summit in Glasgow, Scotland. The agreement reached at COP 26 aims to build on the Paris Agreement and prevent the worst effects of climate change.
IEA forecast for the future:
At the same time, countries like Vietnam, the Philippines and Bangladesh, where the very strong growth in coal demand was expected a few years ago, are now showing more modest gains as they shift more towards sources of coal. less electricity. carbon intensive. However, global coal trends will be largely shaped by China and India, which account for two-thirds of global coal consumption, despite their efforts to increase renewable energy and other low-carbon energy sources. In China, coal demand growth is expected to average less than 1% per year from 2022 to 2024. In India, stronger economic growth and increasing electrification are forecast to accelerate push coal demand up 4% per year. India’s growing appetite for coal is expected to add another 130 million tonnes (Mt) to coal demand between 2021 and 2024. For most industrial uses of coal, such as iron and steel production, there are not many technologies that can replace it in the short term. Based on current trends, global coal demand will increase to 8 025 million tons by 2022, the highest level ever seen and will remain there until 2024”.
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