Coal capacity climbs worldwide in 2022

A report published Wednesday by Global Energy Monitor revealed the capacity to burn coal for power went up in 2022. The capacity grew up by 19.5 gigawatts last year, equivalent to about 1 percent, the Associated Press reported.

The report revealed fourteen countries added new coal plants, while eight countries announced their plans to construct new projects. China accounted for more than 90 percent of new coal project announcements. On the other hand, seventeen countries closed up plants in the previous year.

According to the International Energy Agency, coal plants should be shut down by 2030 in developed countries, and 2040 in developing countries in order to meet climate goals set in the 2015 Paris Agreement.

Flora Champenois, the report’s lead author stressed how new projects will necessitate “steeper cuts and commitments… in the future.”

Shantanu Srivastava, an energy analyst with the Institute for Energy Economics and Financial Analysis also referred to the importance of ensuring employers in coal and other similar sectors are not left behind following the transition towards clean energy.