China / India: Coal-fired electricity generation fell by 1.6 % in China and 3 % in India last year, marking the first simultaneous decline in the two countries since 1973, according to analysis by the Centre for Research on Energy and Clean Air.
The decline was driven largely by a record expansion of renewable generation, which was sufficient to cover rising electricity demand in both markets.
China added more than 300 GW of solar capacity and 100 GW of wind, setting new national records. India added approximately 35 GW of solar, 6 GW of wind and 3.5 GW of hydropower.
The analysis found that clean-energy growth accounted for 44 % of the reduction in coal and gas generation in India compared with trends over the previous five years. Milder weather contributed around 36 % of the reduction, while slower underlying electricity demand accounted for about 20 %.
Analysts cautioned that weather remains an important variable. Higher summer temperatures could increase air-conditioning demand and put renewed pressure on coal-fired generation.
The development is significant because China and India together accounted for more than 90 % of the increase in global carbon emissions between 2015 and 2024. A sustained decline in coal use across both countries could therefore influence the timing of a peak in global coal consumption and emissions.
Recent expectations of a global coal peak have previously been disrupted by energy-market shocks, including higher gas prices following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, which encouraged greater coal use in several markets.
Source: The Guardian
