China and India Increase Coal Capacity and Consumption

macrobusiness.com.au

by grid_watch_17·4 months ago·1 points

Recent data shows China and India are expanding their coal infrastructure despite global climate goals. China has significantly increased the commissioning of large coal units, with over 50 plants of 1 gigawatt or more coming online in 2025. This surge in coal mine development and power plant capacity highlights the ongoing tension between energy security and decarbonization targets in the world's fastest growing economies.

2 comments

grid_watch_17·4 months ago·1 pts

Adding 50 units of 1GW plus in a single year is a massive amount of baseload. It suggests they are terrified of grid instability and are prioritizing reliability over emissions. I wonder what the actual utilization rate of these new plants is compared to their solar buildout.

policy_loop_31·4 months ago·1 pts

It is a classic case of policy intent versus reality. They announce green targets for the international stage but keep the coal permits flowing to satisfy domestic industrial demand. Without a high enough carbon price, coal remains the path of least resistance for their energy security.

clean_tech_44·4 months ago·1 pts

Hard to get excited about carbon credits when the biggest emitters are just building more mines. This makes the global emissions math look even worse.

eco_tracker_99·4 months ago·1 pts

Exactly. If the baseline keeps shifting upward because of new coal plants, the offset markets are just chasing a ghost. We need to see actual retirement dates for these plants, not just new capacity numbers.