China Dominates New Coal Plant Construction in 2023, Says Global Energy Monitor

According to the Global Energy Monitor (GEM), a non-profit tracking global coal projects, more than 95% of the coal plant capacity beginning construction in 2023 is in China. Despite a trend of some coal projects being canceled or shelved, new proposals worldwide continue to emerge. As of October, 110 gigawatts (GW) of coal power capacity is under consideration in 32 countries outside China, comprising 131 coal projects.

Key Findings from GEM’s Global Coal Plant Tracker

1. China’s Dominance: China leads in new coal plant construction, with over 95% of the global capacity initiated in 2023.
2. Global Consideration: Outside China, 110 GW of coal power capacity is under consideration in 32 countries, involving 131 coal projects. India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia lead with 83% of the total proposed capacity.
3. Trends in Proposals: While some coal projects have been shelved, new proposals emerged simultaneously. In the first nine months of 2023, 18.3 GW of coal capacity moved from being proposed to shelved or canceled.
4. Top Countries: India, Bangladesh, and Indonesia are at the forefront, constituting 83% of the proposed coal capacity.
5. Cancellations: Notable cancellations include projects in Bosnia and Herzegovina, Botswana, Brazil, Indonesia, Laos, Mongolia, Serbia, Türkiye, Ukraine, and Vietnam.
6. New Proposals: Simultaneously, 15.3 GW of entirely new proposals are under consideration in India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, and Mongolia.
7. Inactive Proposals: Inactive coal proposals (4.2 GW) are back under consideration in Botswana, India, Nigeria, the Philippines, and Russia.
8. Regional Construction: Southeast Asia and South Asia, excluding China, have the highest capacity under construction, with India, Indonesia, Bangladesh, and Vietnam accounting for 84% of the 67 GW under construction.

India’s Shifting Goals

• India, in particular, has revised its goals to add 80 GW of coal-fired power plants by the financial year 2032, up from the previously planned 27 GW.
• The shift aims to meet rising energy demands, as stated by the Union Minister of New and Renewable Energy.
• Noteworthy coal projects progressing in various Indian states include the Adani Raigarh Thermal Power Plant, Anpara-E Power Station, and others.

Global Emission Concerns

• China, despite being the largest emitter of greenhouse gas emissions in 2022, has aggressively pursued coal projects.
• Outside China, new unabated coal power plants need to be halted to limit global warming to the critical threshold of 1.5 degrees Celsius, according to the authors.
• The decline in new construction starts outside China for the second consecutive year is a key indicator of coal power capacity growth.

International Perspectives

• United States climate envoy John Kerry and International Energy Agency (IEA) chief Fatih Birol emphasize the need to halt the building of new coal plants to effectively transition to clean energy.
• The Global Coal Power Tracker urges governments, utilities, and banks to play a role in accelerating the global shift from coal to clean energy.