Coal phase-out
Coal phase-out is an
Peak coal
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Global coal consumption reached an all-time high in 2023, and is expected to fall in 2024.[15] Consumption declines in the United States and Europe, as well as developed economies in Asia[16] were offset by production increases in China, India and Indonesia.[15]
Coal phase-out by country
Africa
South Africa
This section needs to be updated. The reason given is: implications of Eskom financial problems and Ramaphosa leadership.(June 2019) |
As of 2007, South Africa's power sector is the 8th highest global emitter of CO2.[17] In 2005/2006, 77% of South Africa's energy demand was directly met by coal.[18]
Since 2008, South Africa's government started funding solar water heating installations. As of January 2016, there have been 400 000 domestic installations in total, with free-of-charge installation of low-pressure solar water heaters for low-cost homes or low-income households which have access to the electricity grid, while other installations are subsidised.[19]
Americas
Canada
In November 2016, the Government of Canada announced plans to phase out coal-fired electricity generation by 2030.[20] As of 2020[update], only four provinces burn coal to generate electricity: Alberta, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Saskatchewan.[21] With Alberta scheduled to have coal phased out of electricity generation by 2024.[22] Canada aims to generate 90% of its electricity from non-emitting sources by 2030.[23] Already, it generates 82% from non-emitting sources.[24]
Beginning in 2005, Ontario planned coal phase-out legislation as a part of the province's electricity policy.[25] The province annually consumed 15 million tonnes of coal in large power plants to supplement nuclear power. Nanticoke Generating Station was a major source of air pollution,[26] and Ontario suffered "smog days" during the summer.[27] In 2007, Ontario's Liberal government committed to phasing out all coal generation in the province by 2014. Premier Dalton McGuinty said, "By 2030 there will be about 1,000 more new coal-fired generating stations built on this planet. There is only one place in the world that is phasing out coal-fired generation and we're doing that right here in Ontario."[28] The Ontario Power Authority projected that in 2014, with no coal generation, the largest sources of electrical power in the province will be nuclear (57 percent), hydroelectricity (25 percent), and natural gas (11 percent).[29] In April 2014, Ontario was the first jurisdiction in North America to eliminate coal in electricity generation.[30] The final coal plant in Ontario, Thunder Bay Generating Station, stopped burning coal in April 2014.[31]
United States
This section needs to be updated.(May 2019) |
In 2017,
Year | Electrical generation from coal (TWh) |
Total electrical generation (TWh) |
% from coal |
Number of coal plants |
---|---|---|---|---|
2002 | 1,933 | 3,858 | 50.1% | 633 |
2003 | 1,974 | 3,883 | 50.8% | 629 |
2004 | 1,978 | 3,971 | 49.8% | 625 |
2005 | 2,013 | 4,055 | 49.6% | 619 |
2006 | 1,991 | 4,065 | 49.0% | 616 |
2007 | 2,016 | 4,157 | 48.5% | 606 |
2008 | 1,986 | 4,119 | 48.2% | 598 |
2009 | 1,756 | 3,950 | 44.4% | 593 |
2010 | 1,847 | 4,125 | 44.8% | 580 |
2011 | 1,733 | 4,100 | 42.3% | 589 |
2012 | 1,514 | 4,048 | 37.4% | 557 |
2013 | 1,581 | 4,066 | 38.9% | 518 |
2014 | 1,582 | 4,094 | 38.6% | 491 |
2015 | 1,352 | 4,078 | 33.2% | 427 |
2016 | 1,239 | 4,077 | 30.4% | 381 |
2017 | 1,206 | 4,035 | 29.9% | 359 |
2018 | 1,149 | 4,181 | 27.5% | 336 |
2019 | 965 | 4,131 | 23.4% | 308 |
2020 | 773 | 4,010 | 19.3% | 284 |
2021 | 898 | 4,108 | 21.9% | 269 |
References: [34] |
In 2007, 154 new coal-fired plants were on the drawing board in 42 states.[35] By 2012, that had dropped to 15, mostly due to new rules limiting mercury emissions, and limiting carbon emissions to 1,000 pounds of CO2 per megawatt-hour of electricity produced.[36]
In July 2013, US Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz outlined Obama administration policy on fossil fuels:
In the last four years, we’ve more than doubled renewable energy generation from wind and solar power. However, coal and other fossil fuels still provide 80 percent of our energy, 70 percent of our electricity, and will be a major part of our energy future for decades. That’s why any serious effort to protect our kids from the worst effects of climate change must also include developing, demonstrating and deploying the technologies to use our abundant fossil fuel resources as cleanly as possible.[37]
Then-US Energy Secretary Steven Chu and researchers for the US National Renewable Energy Laboratory have noted that greater electrical generation by non-dispatchable renewables, such as wind and solar, will also increase the need for flexible natural gas-powered generators, to supply electricity during those times when solar and wind power are unavailable.[38][39] Gas-powered generators have the ability to ramp up and down quickly to meet changing loads.[40]
In the US, many of the fossil fuel phase-out initiatives have taken place at the state or local levels.[citation needed]
In November 2021, US refused to sign up to coal phaseout agreement at the COP26 climate summit.[41][42]
California
California's SB 1368 created the first governmental moratorium on new coal plants in the United States. The law was signed in September 2006 by Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger,[43] took effect for investor-owned utilities in January 2007, and took effect for publicly owned utilities in August 2007. SB 1368 applied to long-term investments (five years or more) by California utilities, whether in-state or out-of-state. It set the standard for greenhouse gas emissions at 1,100 pounds of carbon dioxide per megawatt-hour, equal to the emissions of a combined-cycle natural gas plant. This standard created a de facto moratorium on new coal, since it could not be met without carbon capture and sequestration.[44]
Maine
On 15 April 2008,
Oregon
In early March 2016, Oregon lawmakers approved a plan to stop paying for out-of-state coal plants by 2030 and require a 50 percent renewable energy standard by 2040.[46] Environmental groups such as the American Wind Energy Association and leading Democrats praised the bill.
Texas
In 2006, a coalition of Texas groups organized a campaign in favor of a statewide moratorium on new coal-fired power plants. The campaign culminated in a "Stop the Coal Rush" mobilization, including rallying and lobbying, at the state capital in Austin on 11 and 12 February 2007.[47] Over 40 citizen groups supported the mobilization.[48]
In January 2007, a resolution calling for a 180-day moratorium on new pulverized coal plants was filed in the Texas Legislature by State Rep.
Washington state
Hawaii
Asia
China
As of 2020, over half of the world's coal-generated electricity was produced in China.[53] In 2020 alone, China added 38 gigawatts of coal-fired power generation, over three times what the rest of the world built that year.[54]
China is confident of achieving a rich zero carbon economy by 2050.[55] In 2021, the government ordered all coal mines to operate at full capacity at all times, including holidays; approved new mines, and eliminated restrictions on coal imports.[56] In November 2021, China reached record coal production levels, breaking the previous historic record, established in October 2021.[57]
China's exceedingly high energy demand has pushed the demand for relatively cheap coal-fired power. Serious air quality deterioration has resulted from the massive use of coal and many Chinese cities suffer severe smog events.[58] [needs update]
As a consequence the region of Beijing has decided to phase out all its coal-fired power generation by the end of 2015.[59] [needs update]
In 2009, China had 172 GW of installed hydro capacity, the largest in the world, producing 16% of China's electricity, the Eleventh Five-Year Plan has set a 300 GW target for 2020. China built the world's largest power plant of any kind, the Three Gorges Dam.
In addition to the huge investments in coal power, China has 32[60] nuclear reactors under construction, the highest number in the world.
Analysis in 2016, showed that China's coal consumption appears to have peaked in 2014.[61][62] In 2014, China consumed 2050 MTOE of coal; in 2020, 2060 MTOE; and the IEA projected 2021 China coal consumption at 2150 MTOE, or an increase of 5% vs. 2014.[63]
India
This section needs to be updated.(May 2019) |
India is the third largest consumer of coal in the world. India's federal energy minister is planning to stop importing thermal coal by 2018.[64] The annual report of India's Power Ministry has a plan to grow power by about 80 GW as part of their 11th 5-year plan, and 79% of that growth will be in fossil fuel–fired power plants, primarily coal.[65] India plans four new "ultra mega" coal-fired power plants as part of that growth, each 4000 MW in capacity. As of 2015[update], there are six nuclear reactors under construction. In the first half of 2016, the amount of coal-fired generating capacity in pre-construction planning in India fell by 40,000 MW, according to results released by the Global Coal Plant Tracker.[66] In June 2016, India's Ministry of Power stated that no further power plants would be required in the next three years, and "any thermal power plant that has yet to begin construction should back off."[67]
In cement production, carbon neutral biomass is being used to replace coal for reducing carbon foot print drastically.[68][69]
Indonesia
The Indonesia Just Energy Transition Partnership is a 20 billion dollar agreement to decarbonise Indonesia's coal-powered economy, launched on 15 November 2022 at the G20 summit.[70][71][72] This Just Energy Transition Partnership comes after the first such agreement, the South Africa JET-IP was announced in 2021 as a partnership with Germany, France, the UK and US.[73][74] The agreement with Indonesia involves all G7 countries as partners, including Canada, Italy and Japan. It also includes Denmark and Norway.[75][76] The JETP aims to develop a comprehensive investment plan (the JETP Investment and Policy Plan) to achieve Indonesia's decarbonisation goals.[77]
Under the JETP, Indonesia aims to reach net-zero emissions of greenhouse gases from electricity production by 2050, bringing forward its target by a decade, and reach a peak in those emissions by 2030. According to two think tanks, the $20bn allocated under the programme are insufficient for these goals.[78]
On the sideline of the same conference, the Asian Development Bank signed an agreement with Cirebon Electric Power to open discussions on accelerated retirement of the Cirebon Steam Power Plant.[79]Japan
This section needs to be updated.(June 2022) |
Japan, the world's third-largest economy, made a major move to use more fossil fuels in 2012, when the nation shut down nuclear reactors following the
In January 2017, the Japanese government announced plans to build 45 new coal-fired power plants in the next ten years, largely to replace expensive electricity from petroleum power plants.[82] Japan has 140 coal plants of which 114 are classified as inefficient and as a result the government intends to shut these down by 2050 to meet its climate commitments.[83]
Philippines
The Philippines has stop issuing permits for the construction of new greenfield coal power plants in 2020.[84] Six provinces have passed ordinance banning coal power plants in their jurisdiction as of 2019 namely: Bohol, Guimaras, Ilocos Norte, Masbate, Negros Oriental, Occidental Mindoro, and Sorsogon[85]
The Department of Energy in December 2023 has urged for the voluntary early and orderly decommissioning or repurposing of existing coal-fired power plants in line of the Philippines' goal to have a 50 percent renewable energy share by 2040.[86][87]
Turkey
In 2019, the OECD said that energy and climate policies that are not aligned in future may prevent some assets from providing an economic return due to the transition to a low-carbon economy.[88] The average Turkish coal-fired power station is predicted to have higher long-run operating costs than renewables by 2030.[89] The insurance industry is slowly withdrawing from fossil fuels.[90]
In 2021 the
Vietnam
At the COP 26 in 2021, Vietnam pledged to phase out unabated coal power by the 2040s or soon thereafter.[108] This is part of the country's announcement to achieve net zero emissions by 2050. In December 2022, Vietnam joined the Just Energy Transition Partnership. Under this partnership, the country will receive $15.5 billion in the next 3–5 years to accelerate decarbonising its electricity sector, including shifting coal power use peak by 2030 instead of 2035. With coal contributing to about 50% of the electricity generation, Vietnam is facing numerous challenges to phase out coal while electricity demand is increasing around 10%/year. It could, however, ramp up the penetration of solar and wind power, particularly offshore wind, to replace coal power [109]
Europe
This section needs to be updated.(May 2019) |
In July 2014, CAN Europe, WWF European Policy Office, HEAL, EEB and Climate-Alliance Germany published a report calling for the decommissioning of the thirty most polluting coal-fired power plants in Europe.[110]
Austria
Austria closed its last coal power plant in 2020.[111]
Bulgaria
Closure is planned for 2038 but it is thought market forces will force it well before that.[112]
Belgium
After the government denied a 2009 application to build a new power plant in Antwerp, the Langerlo power station burned its last ton of coal in March 2016, ending the use of coal fired power plants in Belgium.[113]
Denmark
As part of their Climate Policy Plan, Denmark stated that it will phase out oil for heating purposes and coal by 2030. Additionally, their goal is to supply 100% of their electricity and heating needs with renewable energy five years later (i.e. 2035).[114]
Finland
In 2019, Finland enacted a ban of coal use for energy purposes starting on 1 May 2029, ahead of the 2030 schedule discussed earlier.[115][116] As of 2020, coal represented only 4.4% of electricity generated in the country.[117] Finland is a founding member of the Powering Past Coal Alliance along 18 other countries.[118][119]
France
The French government intends to close or convert the nation's last four coal plants by 2022.[120][121] In April 2021 the Le Havre coal plant unit was shuttered.[122]
In December 2017, to fight against
Germany
This section may be
environmental activists blocking a coal mine to limit climate change (Ende Gelände 2016 ).
Hard coal mining has long been subsidized in Germany, reaching a peak of €6.7 billion in 1996 and dropping to €2.7 billion in 2005 due to falling output. These subsidies represented a burden on public finances and implied a substantial opportunity cost, diverting funds away from other, more beneficial public investments.[125]
In February 2007, Germany announced plans to phase out hard coal-industry subsidies by 2018, a move which ended hard coal mining in Germany. In 2007, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the First Merkel cabinet (CDU/CSU and SPD) agreed to legislation to phase out Germany's hard coal mining sector. That did not mean that they supported phasing out coal in general. There were plans to build about 25 new plants in the coming years. Most German coal power plants were built in the 1960s, and have a low energy efficiency. Public sentiment against coal power plants was growing and the construction or planning of some plants was stopped.[133][127][128][129][130] A number are under construction and still being built. No concrete plan is in place to reduce coal-fired electricity generation. As of October 2015, the remaining coal plants still under planning include: Niederaussem, Profen, and Stade. The coal plants then under construction included: Mannheim and Kraftwerk Datteln IV (it started 30 May 2020). Between 2012 and 2015, six new plants went online.[134] All of these plants are 600–1800 MWe.[135]
In 2014, Germany's coal consumption dropped for the first time, having risen each year since the low during the 2009 recession.[136] A 2014 study found that coal is not making a comeback in Germany, as is sometimes claimed. Rather renewables have more than offset the nuclear facilities that have been shut down as a result of Germany's EU-ETS), consider a carbon tax, promote energy efficiency, and strengthen the use of natural gas as a bridge fuel.[137]
In 2016, the state aid rules.[138]
A 2016 study found that the phase-out of lignite in EPH in a manner that avoids taxpayer involvement. Instead, liabilities covering decommissioning and land rehabilitation could be paid by EPH directly into a foundation, perhaps run by the public company LMBV. The study calculates the necessary provisions at €2.6 billion.[139][140]
In November 2016, the German utility STEAG announced it will be decommissioning five coal-fired generating units in North Rhine-Westphalia and Saarland due to low wholesale electricity prices.[141][142] A coal phase-out for Germany is implied in Germany's Climate Action Plan 2050, environment minister Barbara Hendricks said in an interview on 21 November 2016. "If you read the Climate Action Plan carefully, you will find that the exit from coal-fired power generation is the immanent consequence of the energy sector target. ... By 2030 ... half of the coal-fired power production must have ended, compared to 2014", she said.[143][144] Plans to cut down the ancient Hambach open pit mine in 2018 have resulted in massive protests. On 5 October 2018 a German court ruled against the further destruction of the forest for mining purposes. The ruling states, the court needs more time to reconsider the complaint. Angela Merkel, the chancellor of Germany, welcomed the court's ruling. The forest is located approximately 29 km west of the city center of Cologne (specifically Cologne Cathedral).[145]
In January 2019 the German Commission on Growth, Structural Change and Employment initiated Germany's plans to entirely phase out and shut down the 84 remaining coal-fired plants on its territory by 2038.[146] In May 2020, the 1100 In the first half of 2021, coal was the largest source of power generation in Germany due to less wind than in the years before.[149] As coal is continuously phased-out in Germany, natural gas is increasingly replacing coal-burning power plants. In late 2021, a record-breaking surge in energy prices in Europe, particularly for natural gas and refined petroleum products, has put this development into question. While the European Union is gradually cutting down on its dependence on fossil fuels, a shift to a green economy has not happened as swiftly as expected. Since many countries in Europe resort to natural gas in order to build their green economies, elevated prices for natural gas have been viewed as a stumbling block for reducing greenhouse gas emissions.[150] ItalyAs of 2020, Italy still has 9 coal power plants, for a total capacity of 7702 MW. Enel, Italy's largest power generator, intends to shut down 3 power plants in early 2021.[151][152] Netherlands
On 22 September 2016, the Dutch parliament voted for a 55% cut in CO2 emissions by 2030, a move which would require the closure of the country's five coal-fired power plants. The vote is not binding on the government however.[153] In December 2019 the Dutch senate banned coal for power generation by 2030 at the latest.[154][155] PolandAs of March 2024 the date is still being discussed.[156] PortugalOn 20 November 2021 Portugal turned off the last remaining coal station (Pego), making Portugal coal free.[157] SpainIn October 2018, the coal-burning power plants.[158]
SwedenIn 2019 coal was still used to a limited extent to fuel three co-generation plants in Sweden that produced electricity and district heating. The operators of these plants planned to phase out coal by 2020,[159] 2022[160] and 2025[161] respectively. In August 2019 one of the three remaining coal burning power producers announced that they had phased out coal prematurely in 2019 instead of 2020.[162] Värtaverket was scheduled to close in 2022, but closed in 2020.[163] This was the last coal plant in Sweden, and its closure made Sweden coal free. In addition to heat and power coal is also used for steel production, there are long-term plans to phase out coal from steel production: Sweden is constructing hydrogen-based pilot steel plant to replace coke and coal usage in steel production.[164] Once this technology is commercialized with the hydrogen generated from renewable energy sources (biogas or electricity), the carbon foot print of steel production would reduce drastically.[69] United KingdomThe firm power.[167]
Scotland's last coal power station closed in 2016[168] and Wales' last coal power station closed in December 2019.[169] Coal power in England has also reduced substantially. In generating capability there has been the closure of the Hinton Heavies, and closure or conversion to biomass of the remaining coal plants will be completed by 2024. In terms of actual production, in 2018 it was less than at any time since the industrial revolution. The first "coal free day" took place in 2017. Coal supplied 5.4% of UK electricity in 2018, down from 30% in 2014,[170] and 70% in 1990.[166] OceaniaAustralia
The mandatory renewable energy targets, an initiative to ensure that new sources of electricity are more likely to be from wind power, solar power and other sources of renewable energy in Australia. Australia is one of the largest consumers of coal per capita, and also the largest exporter. The proposals are strongly opposed by industry, unions[171] and the main Opposition Party in Parliament (now forming the party in government after the September 2013 election).
New Zealand
In October 2007, the elected in November 2008 repealed this legislation.[citation needed ]
In 2014, almost 80 percent of the electricity produced in New Zealand was from sustainable energy.[173] On 6 August 2015, coal-fired power stations.[174]
See also
References
Sources
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