Coal Emissions in Europe

EU coal emissions rose 6% from 2010 to 2013, contributing to 18% of total EU CO2 emissions. This increase was driven by fuel-switching from gas to coal in Germany, the UK, and Poland, which together account for 66% of coal-based emissions. While renewables and falling demand reduced overall fossil generation by 4.3% per year, the low carbon price under the EU Emissions Trading System (ETS) failed to prevent coal's resurgence. The report warns that the Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) may not force expected closures because of cheaper compliance technologies and the introduction of capacity markets, particularly in the UK and Poland, which risk locking in high-carbon infrastructure into the 2030s. Modelling suggests that if coal remains cheaper than gas, emissions will fall only 3% by 2016, though the potential for fuel-switching will increase by 2020. Sandbag recommends urgent ETS reform, mandatory carbon intensity reporting, and targeted CCS funding.

• Between 2010 and 2013, CO2 emissions from coal in the EU power sector increased by 6%, accounting for 18% of the European Union's total CO2 emissions.
• Germany, the UK, and Poland are the primary drivers of coal emissions, together representing 66% of coal-based emissions and the entirety of the 6% EU increase from 2010 to 2013.
• The EU power sector experienced a "missed opportunity" to reduce emissions by an additional 11% between 2010 and 2013; emissions fell by 7% but would have fallen by 18% if gas had been cheaper than coal.
• The Large Combustion Plant Directive (LCPD) reduced coal emissions by 5% between 2008 and 2013, with a further 3% reduction expected by 2016.
• The Industrial Emissions Directive (IED) is unlikely to cause widespread coal closures because of the availability of cheaper compliance techniques and the use of "transition plans" that delay full compliance until mid-2020.
• There is a significant risk of high-carbon lock-in into the 2030s, as 40GW of coal capacity remains undecided on investment, with 30GW of that located in the UK and Poland where capacity markets may incentivize refurbishment over closure.
• Modelling indicates that if coal remains cheap, emissions will only decrease by 3% from 2013 to 2016, though a 19% reduction in coal generation is projected by 2020 as renewables begin to displace coal.
• The potential for emissions savings through fuel-switching is expected to grow from 11% of power sector emissions currently to 28% by 2020, increasing the importance of the carbon price.

APA

Jones, D., Worthington, B., Watson, L., Buckley, P., & McDonald, P. (2014). Coal Emissions in Europe. Ember. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2020/03/Europes_failure_to_tackle_coal-2014.pdf

Chicago

Jones, Dave, Bryony Worthington, Laurence Watson, Patricia Buckley, and Phil McDonald. Coal Emissions in Europe. Ember, 2014. https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2020/03/Europes_failure_to_tackle_coal-2014.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Jones |first1=Dave |last2=Worthington |first2=Bryony |last3=Watson |first3=Laurence |last4=Buckley |first4=Patricia |last5=McDonald |first5=Phil |title=Coal Emissions in Europe |publisher=Ember |date=July 2014 |url=https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2020/03/Europes_failure_to_tackle_coal-2014.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{jones2014coal, author = {Jones, Dave and Worthington, Bryony and Watson, Laurence and Buckley, Patricia and McDonald, Phil}, title = {{Coal Emissions in Europe}}, institution = {Ember}, year = {2014}, month = jul, url = {https://ember-energy.org/app/uploads/2020/03/Europes_failure_to_tackle_coal-2014.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }