04 April 2025

New coal drops to lowest level in two decades 

The world added the lowest amount of coal power in 20 years, as 44 gigawatts (GW) of new capacity came online in 2024, a strong signal for the continued decline of the most polluting fossil fuel, according to Global Energy Monitor’s definitive annual survey of the global coal fleet. 

Now in its tenth year, the “Boom and Bust Coal” report strives to track nearly every coal plant and proposal in the world through the Global Coal Plant Tracker. 

The report states that while 44 GW of new coal power capacity was added in 2024, 25.2 GW of capacity was retired. As a result, the global coal fleet grew by less than 1% in 2024, with a net increase of only 18.8 GW. The fourfold increase in coal retirements in the European Union played a significant role in this decline.

Christine Shearer, Project Manager of Global Energy Monitor’s Global Coal Plant Tracker, commented:

“Coal power set records last year, but not the kind the industry would want to see. The past year was a preview of what coal will face in the future as the clean energy transition moves full speed ahead. However, efforts are still needed—especially in the world’s wealthiest countries—to ensure coal is phased out in line with the Paris Agreement.”

No New Power Plant in Afşin-Elbistan

Since 2010, Turkey has canceled over 92 GW of planned coal power projects—nearly five times the current operating coal capacity.

Currently, the only new coal power project in Turkey is the addition of two units (688 MW) to the Afşin-Elbistan A Thermal Power Plant in Kahramanmaraş. Despite widespread objections due to its environmental and public health impacts, the Ministry of Environment, Urbanization, and Climate Change granted an “Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) Positive Decision” for the additional units in December 2024.

Beyond Fossil Fuels Campaigner Duygu Kutluay stated:

“Turkey needs an energy system where the entire electricity demand is met from renewable sources, the transition respects ecosystems, and the societal benefits are shared fairly. To achieve a fairer, cleaner, and more prosperous future, we must move away from fossil fuels—especially coal. This includes a transition where public buildings such as schools, hospitals, and municipalities generate their own electricity, and where citizens and energy cooperatives play an active role in production.”

CAN Europe Climate and Energy Policy Officer Elif Cansu İlhan stated: 

Since 2015, Turkey has been following global trends by cancelling almost all coal power plant projects and accelerating the installation of renewable energy. As we have seen in the Rise and Fall report, coal is going out of circulation all over the world. If the last remaining thermal power plant project in Turkey, the Afşin Elbistan A power plant, is cancelled and a fair coal phase-out plan is put in place, the economies of both coal regions and Turkey can be strengthened while providing decent, climate-compatible job opportunities for citizens. 

Key developments of 2024

• At 44 gigawatts (GW), 2024 marked the lowest level for newly operating coal power in 20 years, since 2004. The capacity commissioned was nearly 30 GW below the annual average for 2004 to 2024 (72 GW). 
• Still, the 44 GW of new coal power capacity added was higher than the 25.2 GW retired, leading to a net increase in the global coal fleet of 18.8 GW. 
• Retirements in the EU27 increased fourfold over 2023, from 2.7 GW to 11 GW, led by Germany (6.7 GW). Elsewhere in Europe, the UK shut down its last coal plant. 
• Just eight countries proposed new coal plants in 2024, down from twelve countries in 2023. In the wealthier 38 countries of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development (OECD), coal plant proposals are down from 142 in 2015 to (in the U.S., Japan, Turkey, and Australia) five today.  The four projects outside of Turkey include carbon capture and storage technology.
• Retirements in the U.S. fell to 4.7 GW in 2024, the lowest level since 2014. While nearly half of the remaining U.S. coal power capacity is planned to retire by 2035, utilities are delaying or withdrawing planned retirements.
• Coal power capacity under development outside of China and India decreased for the tenth year in a row, falling over 80% from 445 GW in 2015 to 80 GW in 2024. Ten countries now account for 96% of coal power capacity development.
• New coal proposals have also dwindled in Southeast Asia, due to coal phaseout pledges in Indonesia and Malaysia, a moratorium on coal plant permitting in the Philippines, and the development of just transition planning in Vietnam. Indonesia was the only country to propose new coal plants in Southeast Asia in 2024. 
• Latin America is nearing zero coal proposals, with only Brazil and Honduras proposing new coal plants that have lingered for years. In 2024, Panama committed to phasing out coal power in two years, by 2026. 
• Record high construction starts for coal plants in China followed on the heels of the country’s 2022 to 2023 permitting resurgence. If not curtailed, the wave of new coal plants could undo President Xi’s pledge to strictly limit the growth in coal consumption through 2025. 
• India also proposed a record number of new coal plant proposals in 2024, as the government renewed the country’s support for coal power after a multi-year slowdown. The Indian government has committed to “phase down” the use of coal, but has not set a formal timeline for when such a phase-down in generation or capacity will begin.