World coal power demand to hit new high after China, India, US surge: IEA

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 per cent, 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 per cent 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, the IEA report said.