POWER March 2017 - 10

THE BIG PICTURE: SHUNNING COAL
In the wake of the Paris agreement in December 2015, a number of governments are
implementing (or considering) a phase-out or cut-back of coal-fired power generation.
Percentages show coal's share of total generation in 2014.
Sources: POWER, The Shift Project Data Portal
-Copy and artwork by Sonal Patel, a POWER associate editor
CHINA
72% of 5,144,950 GWh
China's National Energy Administration in January ordered the cessation or
postponement of 104 coal-fired power projects in 13 provinces scattered around the
country. The order affects projects totaling 120 GW. About 54 GW of that capacity is
reportedly from projects already under construction. It is the latest effort by China's
government to reign in a coal capacity glut stemming from falling power demand
on the back of an economic slowdown.
NETHERLANDS
39% of 92,910 GWh
INDIA
72% of 1,118,060 GWh
A draft national electricity plan published in
December suggests India will refrain from
building any new coal capacity after 2022.
CANADA
12% of 649,700 GWh
In early November 2016, Canada's Liberal government
announced a nationwide phase-out of coal power without
carbon capture and storage by 2030, though it later said it will
allow the province of Saskatchewan to keep running coal plants
under an equivalency agreement. The provinces of Ontario and
Alberta have already implemented actions to phase out coal.
GERMANY
45% of 572,530 GWh
After Germany pledged to reduce its carbon dioxide
emissions by up to 95% compared to 1990 levels by 2050, it
set a hard timetable for domestic hard coal mining to cease
by 2018. While initial proposals called for a coal-fired power
production exit " well before 2050 " as part of a national
climate plan, the government hasn't yet set a deadline.
FRANCE
3% of 546,190 GWh
France in October 2016 said it would shut down
all its remaining coal plants by 2023.
UK
32% of 310,810 GWh
In November 2016, the UK government recommitted
to restricting the use of unabated coal generation
by 2023 and ending it altogether by 2025.
SWEDEN
1% of 152,970 GWh
In November 2016, Sweden's finance ministry
outlined plans to use only clean energy by 2040.
10
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Coal
Gas
Geothermal
Hydro
Nuclear
KEY
Power Generation (GWh) in 2014
Oil
Solar and ocean
Wind
Waste and biomass
A non-binding motion by the Dutch parliament in September 2016
to cut the country's carbon emissions 55% by 2030 has spurred
lawmakers to contemplate retiring five remaining coal units in the
Netherlands. The decision has been postponed until after the
March 15 general election.
BELGIUM
9% of 68,760 GWh
In May 2016, Belgium closed its last coal plant, joining
Cyprus, Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, and
Malta, countries in Europe that have no coal plants.
FINLAND
17% of 60,610 GWh
In November 2016, Finland announced a plan to
phase out all coal burning by 2030.
PORTUGAL
18% of 59,360 GWh
DENMARK
Portugal has eyed a 100% transition to renewables.
32% of 32,830 GWh
Denmark is mulling phasing out coal by 2025. In
February, DONG Energy said it would quit coal and
is working to convert all of its coal plants to
biomass.
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POWER March 2017

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