Coal burn jumps sharply in 2021 – IEA

Economic recovery and surging natural gas prices have boosted demand for coal for power generation

Global power generation from coal is expected to have jumped by 9pc in 2021 to an all-time high of 10,350TWh, according to the IEA’s Coal 2021 report. The sharp rise is the result of rising demand from recovering economies, which are seeing growing electricity demand, and higher natural gas prices due to supply shortages, which have made coal-fired power generation cost-competitive. Recovering economic growth is also having an impact outside power generation. Global coal demand—including uses beyond power generation, such as for cement and steel production—is forecast to have grown by 6pc in 2021. “Coal is the single-largest source of global carbon emissions, and [2021’s] historically high l