BOOM AND BUST 2022

The report 'BOOM AND BUST 2022' by Global Energy Monitor and partners analyzes the global state of coal-fired power plants as of April 2022. It highlights a stark divergence: while many OECD and non-OECD countries are committing to end new coal construction and accelerate closures to meet Paris Agreement goals, China continues to expand its coal capacity significantly, offsetting global reductions.

• As of the report date, there are over 2,400 operating coal power plants across 79 countries with a total capacity of nearly 2,100 GW. Additionally, 176 GW is under construction across 189 plants, and 280 GW is planned across 296 plants.
• Global coal capacity saw a net increase of 18.2 GW in 2021, driven by 45 GW of new operations and 26.8 GW of closures. China was the primary driver, accounting for 56% (25.2 GW) of new global capacity in 2021.
• China's coal expansion is accelerating, with 33 GW of new construction started in 2021, the highest since 2016. For the first time, China represents over half (52%) of the world's coal capacity under construction and 57% (158 GW) of global coal proposals.
• The number of countries committing to not build new coal plants nearly doubled in one year, rising from 36 in January 2021 to 65 by early 2022. Consequently, the number of countries still proposing new coal plants fell from 41 to 34.
• Public financing for new coal plants has largely ceased following commitments from G20 members, including Japan, South Korea, and China. President Xi Jinping announced in September 2021 that China would not build new coal power projects abroad, potentially risking the cancellation of 56 overseas projects totaling 52.8 GW.
• The European Union recorded a record 12.9 GW of coal closures in 2021, with Germany (5.8 GW), Portugal (1.9 GW), and Spain (1.7 GW) as the top closers. Portugal became coal-free in November 2021, nine years ahead of its 2030 target.
• In the US, coal closures slowed in 2021 to an estimated 6.4–9 GW, down from 11.6 GW in 2020. To meet climate targets, the US would need to close an average of 25 GW annually until 2030.
• The report criticizes 'clean coal' technologies, such as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), as expensive and ineffective diversions. Examples include the Petra Nova project in the US, which stopped operating in May 2020, and the Boundary Dam project in Canada, which faced technical failures in 2021.
• In Southeast Asia, Indonesia, Vietnam, and the Philippines are key players. Indonesia's operating capacity grew 9% to 40.1 GW in 2021. Vietnam has 20.1 GW in pre-construction, though it committed at COP26 to stop building unabated coal plants. The Philippines maintains a moratorium on new coal plants not yet in the permitting process.
• India has the largest coal capacity after China. While its pre-construction capacity dropped nearly 90% from 2015 to 2021 (down to 23.8 GW), it still has 31.3 GW under construction and 231.9 GW operating as of 2021.
• Bangladesh has canceled significant coal capacity, totaling 22.8 GW to date, including 10.8 GW in 2021. However, 2.6 GW began construction in 2021, and 10.8 GW remains in pre-construction.
• To align with a 1.5°C warming limit, global coal capacity in 2030 should be approximately 1,100 GW. However, current commitments project a capacity of 2,200 GW, leaving a gap of 1,100 GW that must be canceled or closed.

APA

Global Energy Monitor (2022). BOOM AND BUST 2022. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/BoomAndBustCoalPlants_2022_Indonesian_11.pdf

Chicago

Global Energy Monitor. BOOM AND BUST 2022. 2022. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/BoomAndBustCoalPlants_2022_Indonesian_11.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Energy Monitor |title=BOOM AND BUST 2022 |date=April 2022 |url=https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/BoomAndBustCoalPlants_2022_Indonesian_11.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalenergymonitor2022boom, author = {{Global Energy Monitor}}, title = {{BOOM AND BUST 2022}}, institution = {Global Energy Monitor}, year = {2022}, month = apr, url = {https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/reports/BoomAndBustCoalPlants_2022_Indonesian_11.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }