Wednesday 7 September 2016

Global coal plant pipeline registers ‘dramatic drop’

The total amount of coal-fired generating capacity in pre-construction planning worldwide has fallen by 158GW so far this year.

That's a "dramatic drop" of 14% from 1,090GW to 932GW between January and July, according to a report by the Global Coal Plant tracker.

China has registered the largest decrease, with its pre-construction pipeline falling by 114GW during the same period, it added.

Earlier this year, the country announced restrictions aimed at proposed coal-fired power plants in 13 provinces.

However, China continues to have the most coal plants planned at 406GW and the largest capacity at 895GW.

India is the country with the second biggest decrease. Its coal plant pipeline fell by 40GW, the report stated.

It also warned that despite the global reduction in the coal power pipeline, the level of capacity in planning and construction worldwide is enough to exceed the global carbon budget for limiting warming to 1.5°C.