The hard reality of coal's role in global energy
Despite the growth in low-carbon fuels in recent decades, the reality is that coal remains a major fuel in global energy markets while accounting for over 40% of global energy-related CO2 emissions. While more and more industrialised countries have announced plans to phase out the use of coal in the years to come, the world consumes 65% more coal today than in the year 2000.
That is the hard reality we must address when balancing the urgency of reducing greenhouse gas emissions with rising energy needs in many parts of the world, mainly in emerging markets. Coal provides one-quarter of global primary energy demand. Today, it is the world’s largest source of electricity generation and a crucial part of steel making and cement production.
As the global energy authority that covers all fuels and technologies, the International Energy Agency (IEA) is committed to regular and rigorous analysis of coal markets, to forecasting their future trends and to highlighting technologies that can help tackle coal’s emissions footprint. This report is intended as a reference point for those with a stake in coal’s future, as well as for those interested in the relationship between energy and climate change.
The continued use and growth of coal worldwide is largely supported by a group of fast-growing Asian economies that account for half of the world’s population: the People’s Republic of China, India, Indonesia, Pakistan, Bangladesh, the Philippines and Viet Nam. Coal power plants in Asia are young – 12 years-old on average – making it possible that they can operate for many decades to come.
How we address this issue in Asia is critical for the long-term success of any global efforts to reduce emissions. A range of low-carbon technologies are needed to put the world on a sustainable energy path, including carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS). The adoption of CCUS in many of Asia’s young power plants would be necessary to bring the world into line with a pathway for achieving international goals on climate, air quality and energy access. Furthermore, the decarbonisation of major heavy industries such as steel and cement would be extremely difficult without CCUS.
Over the past several years, the IEA has opened its doors to major emerging economies and increased its global engagement, working closely with many countries to help them accelerate their clean energy transitions. Building on this successful momentum, our recent Ministerial Meeting has given the IEA a strong mandate to step up its role leading global clean energy transformations. We will continue helping governments around the world to provide the most appropriate solutions to their energy challenges, while ensuring that the changes happen in a fair, just and affordable way for all citizens.
Creating possibilities for complex and challenging Renewables I Offshore Wind
4 年This is the sad reality of the current energy transition...but let’s put all together our Energy and Funds to aim at making the energy transition even faster !
Managing Director at Petrocam Kenya Limited || MBA Energy and Sustainability || GARP Certified Energy Risk Professional || Financial Risk Manager
4 年An insightful and fact-based article, coal is a major component of the global energy mix and is likely to remain for the near future as long as the fast-growing Asian economies continue to use coal. The question for many growing economies is why should they be punished for using coal for low-cost energy when the developed economies have been using coal since the industrial revolution. I believe IEA and leaders like Mr Fatih can be instrumental in bringing all stakeholders together to address these and other climate change concerns through the promotion of clean energy.
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4 年Above all, let me thank to Fatih bey as his article is important to create awareness that pulls us back to reality. Stopping coal as a fuel for energy production should be our aim. However, it is not that easy to give up the fuel we are most experienced all of a sudden. Although total share of coal in energy production started to drop, it has still 35% share through all. We are expecting renewables to become major resource for power only around 2040 based on energy projections. Last but not least, getting rid of hydrocarbon energy fuels is the lion of our heart as it is widely said in Anatolia. However, we should also be realistic and have a well planned strategy to do that.
Owner and Creator of World University at World University.london
4 年No discussions are needed . Just simply stop using coal. Do not kill people .?
Business Development | MicroMasters in Sustainable Energy | Growing the Carbon Market
4 年Asia has seen a large boom in the clean energy market with a lot of large-scale solar PV entering the fray. Perhaps a push into taxing carbon slowly while incentivising utility-scale battery storage (carrot + stick) would propel the market faster towards clean energy?