Peak Coal

Generali

http://www.iea.org/newsroomandevents/pressreleases/2015/december/global-coal-demand-stalls-after-more-than-a-decade-of-relentless-growth.html

Following more than a decade of aggressive growth, global coal demand has stalled, the International Energy Agency said Friday in its annual coal market report. The report sharply lowered its five-year global coal demand growth forecast in reflection of economic restructuring in China, which represents half of global coal consumption. Greater policy support for renewable energy and energy efficiency – the foundation of the COP21 agreement in Paris – is also expected to dent coal demand.

The IEA’s Medium-Term Coal Market Report 2015 slashed its five-year estimate of global coal demand growth by more than 500 million tonnes of coal equivalent (Mtce) in recognition of the tremendous pressures facing coal markets. The revision comes as official preliminary data indicate that a decline in Chinese coal demand occurred in 2014 and is set to accelerate in 2015. A decline in coal consumption in China for two consecutive years would be the first since 1982.

“The coal industry is facing huge pressures, and the main reason is China – but it is not the only reason,” IEA Executive Director Fatih Birol said as he launched the report in Singapore at an event organised by the Energy Market Authority. “The economic transformation in China and environmental policies worldwide – including the recent climate agreement in Paris – will likely continue to constrain global coal demand.”

Please note. The limit on quoting copyrighted articles on this site is two paragraphs, however this is a press release and is provided in order to be quoted from. Also, please note that this is about the economics of the coal market. I leave it to your imagination which idiot I am addressing this to.

kinger101

If carbon capture were to become more cost effective and efficient, the demand for coal might actually increase. Coal + CCS would be less efficient than Coal - CCS. so in theory, require more for the same output. And for the UK at least, coal might be seen as a viable option again.

It just doesn't work at the moment, as needing to transport 25-40% more coal isn't going to be green.

PasturesNew

I used to hate scooping the coal from the coal bunker in the dark/cold ... I was useless at it. It was top loading and you had a small door at the front/bottom, so were fighting the weight of the coal above when getting the shovel under it and pulling some out.

I bet it's useless/lazy people like me that made the coal industry fall ... because we're too lazy to dig for a really good scoopful

cells

Needs to be looked at in the context that coal was the fastest growing fossil fuel over the last 15 years. Even if its use is to be flat for ten years the 2000-2025 growth would still be impressive. Personally I don't think it likely that coal use will fall below y2000 levels within the next generation