Boom and Bust Coal 2025

In 2024, the world commissioned the lowest amount of new coal power capacity in twenty years (44 GW), yet the global fleet still grew by 18.8 GW because additions exceeded retirements. While OECD countries and the EU are accelerating phaseouts—with the UK becoming the sixth country to eliminate coal entirely—China and India continue to drive global expansion. China saw its highest construction starts since 2015 (94 GW), and India recorded its highest year for new proposals (38.4 GW). Outside these two nations, coal development has declined for ten consecutive years. However, the report notes that current retirement rates in OECD countries must more than triple to meet 1.5°C warming targets.

• Global newly operating coal power capacity in 2024 reached its lowest level since 2004, totaling 44 GW, which is nearly 30 GW below the 2004-2024 annual average of 72 GW.
• Despite the drop in new commissions, the global coal fleet increased by 18.8 GW in 2024 because the 44 GW of new capacity exceeded the 25.2 GW retired.
• China experienced a surge in coal infrastructure, with 94 GW of construction starts in 2024—the highest since 2015—following a permitting boom in 2022 and 2023 where over 200 GW was approved.
• India saw a record year for new coal plant proposals in 2024, totaling 38.4 GW, with the government aiming to add 93 GW of new capacity by 2032.
• China and India are increasingly isolated in their pursuit of coal, together accounting for 92% (107.3 GW) of all newly proposed global coal power capacity in 2024.
• The United Kingdom officially became coal-free in September 2024 after shutting down its last plant, Ratcliffe-on-Soar, making it the sixth country to phase out coal entirely since the 2015 Paris agreement.
• Coal retirements in the EU27 grew fourfold from 2.7 GW in 2023 to 11 GW in 2024, with Germany leading the region by retiring 6.7 GW.
• To align with the IEA Net Zero scenario and keep warming below 1.5°C, OECD countries must increase annual retirements from 19 GW in 2024 to 70 GW through 2030.
• Japan and South Korea are promoting ammonia co-firing as a decarbonization strategy, though the report argues this technology is expensive and fails to meet the 90% emission reduction threshold required to be considered 'abated'.
• In Africa, Zimbabwe and Zambia are seeing increases in proposed coal capacity, much of which is sponsored by Chinese companies despite China's 2021 pledge to stop building new coal plants abroad.
• Indonesia's coal capacity under development has dropped 90% since 2015, but operating capacity continues to grow due to a surge in 'captive' coal plants for industrial use, particularly in the nickel processing sector.

APA

Global Energy Monitor (2025). Boom and Bust Coal 2025. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/press-releases/Boom-Bust-Coal-2025_58.pdf

Chicago

Global Energy Monitor. Boom and Bust Coal 2025. 2025. https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/press-releases/Boom-Bust-Coal-2025_58.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Global Energy Monitor |title=Boom and Bust Coal 2025 |date=April 2025 |url=https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/press-releases/Boom-Bust-Coal-2025_58.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{globalenergymonitor2025boom, author = {{Global Energy Monitor}}, title = {{Boom and Bust Coal 2025}}, institution = {Global Energy Monitor}, year = {2025}, month = apr, url = {https://globalenergymonitor.org/sites/default/files/migration/press-releases/Boom-Bust-Coal-2025_58.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }