India added 5.5 GW of new coal-fired power capacity in 2023, doubling the capacity added in 2022, according to the Global Energy Monitor's annual survey,.

Last year also marked the lowest rate of coal capacity retirement in the country in eight years, with no units over 30 MW being phased out.

There was also a surge in proposals of building new coal capacity last year, totaling 11.4 GW introduced by both public and private entities, the highest since 2016. This includes the revival of several long-stalled projects, signifying a significant shift towards expanding coal power infrastructure in the country.

Globally, coal power capacity increased by 2% in 2023. According to data from the Global Coal Plant Tracker, 69.5 GW of coal power capacity was commissioned worldwide in 2023, while only 21.1 GW was retired, resulting in a net annual increase of 48.4 GW. This brings the global total coal power capacity to 2,130 GW.

The survey underscores the challenge of phasing out operating coal power by 2040, with an average of 126 GW of coal power capacity needing to be retired annually over the next 17 years, which is a 6% decline per year. This task is further complicated by the fact that 578 GW of coal plants are currently under construction globally.

(Writing by Alex Guo  Editing by Harry Huo)
For any questions, please contact us by inquiry@fwenergy.com or +86-351-7219322.

Share this article

Connect with us