Global approvals of coal-fired plants rose to their highest level since 2015

Fast-growing electricity use and concerns about electricity security underpinned a wave of coal plant approvals in China.

China gave the green light to almost 100 GW of new coal-fired plants in 2024, and India a further 15 GW, pushing global approvals to their highest level since 2015. By contrast, for the first time on record, there were no new steam turbine orders for coal-fired power plants in advanced economies in 2024.