Energy & Science
China Coal-Plant Boom Spurs First Global Increase Since 2015
- Despite increase in plants, coal generation dipped 3% in 2019
- Almost 80% of coal plants under construction are in Asia
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Global electricity produced from burning coal slipped 3% last year as more countries shifted to cleaner fuels, but the number of power plants grew for the first time since 2015 because of a boom in China.
About 68 gigawatts of coal plants opened last year, offsetting the roughly 34 gigawatts that retired. Almost two-thirds of the new capacity was installed in China, according to a report from environmental groups including the Sierra Club and Greenpeace International.