Boom and Bust Coal 2026

In 2025, global coal capacity additions reached 97.4 GW, the second-highest on record, primarily driven by China and India, even as global coal-fired electricity generation declined by 0.6%. The report highlights a decoupling where coal is increasingly used as system insurance rather than primary generation, as wind and solar displace coal. While China and India dominate new development, coal activity elsewhere is shrinking and becoming more isolated. However, net capacity outside China rose by 5 GW due to a slowdown in retirements and rebounds in India.

• In 2025, there was a divergence between coal capacity growth and actual use: new capacity additions rose by 3.5%, while coal-fired electricity generation fell by 0.6%. This trend was most evident in China and India, where renewable energy met most new demand, reducing coal generation despite record-high plant commissioning.
• Global coal plant commissioning in 2025 totaled 97.4 GW, the second-highest level since records began, surpassed only by 2015 (107.3 GW). This activity was heavily concentrated in China, which added a decade-high 78.1 GW, and India, which added 10 GW.
• Outside of China and India, coal commissioning was low at 9.2 GW, with Indonesia contributing over 40% (4 GW), followed by Bangladesh (1.3 GW) and South Korea (1.1 GW). South Africa completed its final 0.8 GW unit at the Kusile power station, meaning it has no further coal capacity under construction.
• Global coal power under development grew by 12%, increasing from 633 GW in 2024 to 710 GW in 2025. This growth is increasingly concentrated in China and India, while development in other countries is limited to a shrinking number of isolated or residual projects.
• Net coal power capacity outside of China increased by 5 GW in 2025, the highest increase since 2017. This was caused by a combination of India's commissioning rebound and a global slowdown in the retirement of coal plants.

APA

Bangladesh, G. E. M. A. A. B. B. F. F. B. C. E. C. S. C. C. D. E. I. K. N. P. P. R. W. S. R. F. S. T. A. W. (2026). Boom and Bust Coal 2026. Global Energy Monitor. https://globalenergymonitor.org/research/boom-and-bust-coal-2026

Chicago

Bangladesh, Global Energy Monitor, AJTN, Arayara, Bankwatch, Beyond Fossil Fuels, BWGED, CAN Europe, Chile Sustentable, CLEAN, CREA, DHORA, E3G, INSAPROMA, Kiko Network, POLEN, PRIED, Razom We Stand, Reclaim Finance, SFOC, Trend Asia, Waterkeepers. Boom and Bust Coal 2026. Global Energy Monitor, 2026. https://globalenergymonitor.org/research/boom-and-bust-coal-2026.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Bangladesh |first1=Global Energy Monitor, AJTN, Arayara, Bankwatch, Beyond Fossil Fuels, BWGED, CAN Europe, Chile Sustentable, CLEAN, CREA, DHORA, E3G, INSAPROMA, Kiko Network, POLEN, PRIED, Razom We Stand, Reclaim Finance, SFOC, Trend Asia, Waterkeepers |title=Boom and Bust Coal 2026 |publisher=Global Energy Monitor |date=29 May 2026 |url=https://globalenergymonitor.org/research/boom-and-bust-coal-2026 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{bangladesh2026boom, author = {Bangladesh, Global Energy Monitor, AJTN, Arayara, Bankwatch, Beyond Fossil Fuels, BWGED, CAN Europe, Chile Sustentable, CLEAN, CREA, DHORA, E3G, INSAPROMA, Kiko Network, POLEN, PRIED, Razom We Stand, Reclaim Finance, SFOC, Trend Asia, Waterkeepers}, title = {{Boom and Bust Coal 2026}}, institution = {Global Energy Monitor}, year = {2026}, month = may, url = {https://globalenergymonitor.org/research/boom-and-bust-coal-2026}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }