Coal Plant Closures Cut More EU Emissions Than The Pandemic
- Power sector 2020 emissions down 7% in 10 biggest economies
- Biggest cuts in Spain and Netherlands where coal plants shut
The Teruel coal-fired power station in Spain closed in 2020.
Photographer: Jose A. Bernat Bacete/Getty ImagesThis article is for subscribers only.
Emissions from the power sector in Europe’s 10 largest economies fell by 7% in the year through March 31, with the biggest losses coinciding with coal power plant closures.
Spain shut seven of its 15 coal plants last year contributing to a drop of almost a quarter in annual emissions from power generation. Spain achieved the biggest decline in real terms out of the ten biggest economies in Europe tracked by Finnish energy technology company Wartsila Oyj. Coal’s share in the power mix of Netherlands and Italy also shrank.