Energy Handbook 2011 - GBR

P o w e r S u m m i t - T h e E n e r g y H a n d b o o k 2 0 1 1
F o c u s : C o a l P o w e r
Coal Power
Coal is at the heart of the world’s electricity mix and its
importance looks set to continue for at least the medium term.
For most energy markets, coal-fired plants are the simplest and
cheapest source of baseload energy.
Coal presents one of the greatest ourselves as a pure renewables player; we Article by:
threats to the world’s climate, yet want to be part of the mainstream solution Oliver Cushing
it also represents one of mankind’s in our region”.
greatest opportunities to manage global
warming. “Clean coal” is an oxymoron
to many environmentalists, but with coal
generating 41 percent of the world’s
electricity and the major growth markets
The provision of new efficient coalfired
capacity represents a phenomenal
business opportunity, as does the renewal
of the world’s 2,968 GW of existing
committed to heavy investment thermal capacity. The geographical
in additional capacity, responsible distribution of coal gives further reason
management of this sub-sector will be
at the centre of the fight to limit climate
change. Even countries who are developing
to believe that coal-fired capacity is set
to grow: supply is most abundant where
demand is strongest.
substantial renewable capacity believe that
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thermal power generation must remain part
of the solution. As Rajiv Mishra, Managing
Director of CLP India, says: “We recognise
the threat of climate change. There is no
doubt that managing carbon is a business
risk, and carbon emissions will attract
high charges in all countries, eventually.
However, we did not want to marginalise
The USA is both the world’s largest
power market and the world’s secondlargest
producer of coal. China and India
are respectively the second- and fifthlargest
energy markets in the world, and
the fastest growing. China is the world’s
largest producer of coal and India the
third-largest.
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