Global coal usage is on track to an all-time high, according to the International Energy Agency, underlining the significance of coal as the main source of energy for economies, emerging and advanced, despite pledges to cut down on fossil fuels. Primarily owing to economic recovery following the pandemic-related restrictions, global power generation from coal is expected to jump nine percent in 2021 to a record 10,350 terawatt-hours, according to IEA’s Coal 2021 report (pdf). The rapid increase in consumer demand has outpaced power generation from low-carbon sources, leading to an increase in coal usage. Natural gas, one of the main alternative energy sources, faced a price hike leading producers back to coal. “The amount of electricity generated worldwide from coal is surging towards a new annual record in 2021, undermining efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and potentially putting global coal demand on course for an all-time high next year, …
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