Boom and Bust Coal 2025

In 2024, global coal power capacity increased by 18.8 GW, as 44.1 GW was commissioned and 25.2 GW retired. While the EU27 saw a fourfold increase in retirements and the UK completed its coal phaseout, global progress was offset by significant expansion in China and India. China commissioned 30.5 GW (70% of the global total) and saw 94.5 GW in new construction starts. India recorded its highest-ever level of new coal proposals at 38.4 GW. Conversely, coal proposals in OECD countries dropped from 142 in 2015 to five today, though retirements in these nations must triple to align with the Paris Agreement.

• Global coal power capacity rose to 2,175 GW by the end of 2024, representing an increase of 259 GW since the 2015 Paris Agreement. In 2024, 44.1 GW of capacity was commissioned and 25.2 GW was retired, resulting in a net increase of 18.8 GW.
• China and India are the primary drivers of global coal expansion. China commissioned 30.5 GW in 2024, accounting for 70% of the global total, and had 94.5 GW in new construction starts. India proposed 38.4 GW of new coal power in 2024, the highest annual total on record, with plans for over 90 GW by 2032.
• Europe is accelerating its coal exit, with the EU27 retiring 11 GW of capacity in 2024, a fourfold increase over 2023. The United Kingdom completed its coal phaseout, and Ireland and Spain are expected to finish theirs in 2025.
• Coal development is becoming highly concentrated; ten countries now account for 96% of coal power capacity under development, with China and India responsible for 87%. In OECD countries, the number of coal plant proposals fell from 142 in 2015 to five today.
• Progress has stalled or regressed in specific regions: U.S. retirements fell to 4.7 GW in 2024, the lowest level in a decade. Japan and South Korea continue to plan new plants and are promoting ammonia co-firing as an emissions reduction strategy.

APA

Shearer, C. (2025). Boom and Bust Coal 2025. Global Energy Monitor. https://globalenergymonitor.org/research/boom-and-bust-coal-2025

Chicago

Shearer, Christine. Boom and Bust Coal 2025. Global Energy Monitor, 2025. https://globalenergymonitor.org/research/boom-and-bust-coal-2025.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Shearer |first1=Christine |title=Boom and Bust Coal 2025 |publisher=Global Energy Monitor |date=29 April 2025 |url=https://globalenergymonitor.org/research/boom-and-bust-coal-2025 |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{shearer2025boom, author = {Shearer, Christine}, title = {{Boom and Bust Coal 2025}}, institution = {Global Energy Monitor}, year = {2025}, month = apr, url = {https://globalenergymonitor.org/research/boom-and-bust-coal-2025}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }