Yves came and decarbonized so much. The Coal King is still on his throne.

Author: Felicity Bradstock, a freelance writer specializing in energy and finance.Originally published on Oil price

• Coal has experienced a dramatic rebound this year, and production levels will reach a record high in 2021.
• The surge in demand is mainly due to the faster-than-expected global economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic.
• China and India are the two largest coal producers in the world, accounting for two-thirds of global coal demand.

According to data from the International Energy Agency (IEA), although production in many countries is restricted and aims to achieve decarbonization after COP26, coal production will still hit a record high. By 2021, coal demand will continue to grow. This is mainly due to the fact that the demand of major Asian countries still depends on fossil fuels, and the shortage of natural gas forces European countries to switch to coal. Coal has experienced a dramatic rebound this year. The output level will hit a record high in 2021, and the demand level will reach its peak in 2022. Even after the global coal power generation starts to decline in 2019 and 2020, as many countries switch from coal to energy, it is expected to increase by about 9% this year, reaching 10,350 TWh.

The surge in demand is mainly due to the faster-than-expected global economic recovery following the Covid-19 pandemic. Throughout 2020, as countries around the world impose restrictions on movement, the demand for coal, oil and natural gas has fallen sharply. Many organizations see this as the moment to promote the transition from fossil fuels to renewable alternatives. However, as energy demand rises in 2021, some countries find it difficult to produce oil and natural gas, leading to shortages. The soaring prices of fossil fuels have also prompted consumers to repurchase coal at a more competitive price.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol (Fatih Birol) expressed his concern about this trend, “Coal is the world’s largest single source of carbon emissions. This year’s coal power generation has reached a record high. This is a worrying issue. Signs show how far the world is from its development track. Work hard to reduce emissions to net zero.”

One of the main problems with coal production is that it not only emits carbon into the atmosphere, it also emits sulfur dioxide, particulate matter and nitrogen oxides into the atmosphere. In fact, many people view coal as “The dirtiest fossil fuel“This explains why many governments are pushing for policies to end coal production to support cleaner energy.

This may be surprising considering that many national powers recently participated in the COP26 climate summit, which reconsolidated the goal of the Paris Agreement to curb fossil fuel production as part of a decarbonization plan. But China and India, the two most populous countries in the world, still rely heavily on coal to meet their energy needs.In fact, both parties have decided on a Last minute change language In an agreement on fossil fuels from “phasing out” coal to “phasing out.”

China and India are the two largest coal producers in the world Two-thirds of global coal demandAlthough the two countries have pledged to achieve net zero carbon emissions by 2060 and 2070 respectively, their heavy dependence on coal makes many of their climate goals unrealistic.For example, although China announced earlier this year that it would no longer invest in new coal-fired power plants overseas, it is still making plans. Construction of 60 domestic coal-fired power plants.

It now appears that even countries that have adopted a strategy to phase out coal have seen an increase in demand this year. Mainly due to low air volume and increased energy demand, Germany has to rely on coal And nuclear power will generate electricity throughout 2021. This means that the contribution of coal and nuclear power to energy production will reach 40% this year, compared with 35% in 2020, and renewable energy will account for 41%, compared with 44% last year. Currently, Germany plans to stop nuclear power production by the end of 2022 and phase out coal by 2030.

Even the UK, which promised to end coal production a year earlier than expected by 2024, had to start coal-fired power plants in September to meet the demand for electricity due to natural gas shortages and soaring prices. During this time, Coal contributes 3% of national electricity, Instead of an average of 2.2%. This is the landmark period following the three consecutive days of coal-free operation in the United Kingdom in August.

But many people think that an important Infusion of private investment The elimination of coal needs to be expedited, otherwise it will be completed long ago. Naturally, companies operating coal-fired power plants do not want to close their doors before they reach their full potential, even if their operations pose a threat to the environment. Unless the government can provide them with financial incentives to stop production, the states will need private investment to achieve this goal.Potential for coal mine renovation Geothermal power plant And other renewable energy uses can provide the opportunities needed to encourage such investments. However, without these incentives, as long as demand remains high and leasing remains active, coal companies may continue to operate.