# World coal power demand to hit new high after China, India, U.S. surge – IEA
Author:  Pal Sinha, Barnali 
Author URL: https://financedigest.com/author/pal-sinha-barnali
Published: 2021-12-17
Category: NEWS
Category URL: https://financedigest.com/category/news
Meta Title: Rising Consumption in China, India & US to Drive Global
Meta Description: Rising consumption in China, India and the United States set to push global coal demand to record levels, despite efforts to cut emissions.
URL: https://financedigest.com/world-coal-power-demand-to-hit-new-high-after-china-india-u-s-surge-ieahtml

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SHANGHAI (Reuters) – Rising consumption in China, India and the United States could bring global coal-fired power demand to a new all-time high this year, undermining efforts to cut greenhouse gas emissions, the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Friday.

The IEA said global power generation from coal was expected to reach 10,350 terawatt-hours in 2021, up 9%, driven by a rapid economic recovery that has “pushed up electricity demand much faster than low-carbon supplies can keep up.”

Overall coal demand, including for industries such as cement and steel, is expected to grow 6% this year. Though it will not exceed the record consumption levels of 2013 and 2014, it could [hit a new all-time high next year](https://www.financedigest.com/uk-car-sales-hit-30-year-low-in-2022-but-could-grow-15-this-year-smmt.html "UK car sales hit 30-year low in 2022, but could grow 15% this year – SMMT"), the IEA report said.

IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said the increase was “a [worrying sign of how far off track the world](https://www.financedigest.com/at-chinas-largest-trade-fair-exporters-worry-about-world-economy.html "At China’s largest trade fair, exporters worry about world economy") is in its efforts to put emissions into decline towards net zero.

China is responsible for more than half of global [coal-fired power](https://www.financedigest.com/germanys-uniper-to-restart-coal-fired-power-plant-as-gazprom-halts-supply-to-europe.html "Germany’s Uniper to restart coal-fired power plant as Gazprom halts supply to Europe") generation and is expected to see a 9% year-on-year increase in 2021, the IEA said. Generation in [India is forecast to grow 12% this year](https://www.financedigest.com/mclaren-to-enter-india-market-later-this-year.html "McLaren to enter India market later this year").

Cutting coal use was a major bone of contention at climate talks in Glasgow last month, with countries finally agreeing to “phase down” consumption as part of their efforts to keep [global temperature rises as close](https://www.financedigest.com/global-stocks-close-in-on-4-week-highs-oil-rises-on-hopes-of-soft-landing.html "Global stocks close in on 4-week highs, oil rises on hopes of ‘soft landing’") to 1.5 degrees Celsius as possible.

China has already made a [pledge to start reducing coal](https://www.financedigest.com/citi-pledges-to-cut-emissions-for-more-sectors-including-coal.html "Citi pledges to cut emissions for more sectors including coal") consumption, but will do so only after 2025, giving developers considerable leeway to raise generation capacity further in the coming four years.

According to a report published this [week by researchers with China’s](https://www.financedigest.com/china-arrivals-in-uk-next-week-will-not-face-compulsory-covid-tests-independent.html "China arrivals in UK next week will not face compulsory COVID tests -Independent") State Grid Corporation, energy security concerns mean the country is likely to build as much as 150 gigawatts (GW) of new coal-fired power capacity over the 2021-2025 period, bringing the total to 1,230 GW.

(Reporting by David Stanway; Editing by Lincoln Feast.)


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