Why Coal Remains an Energy Source for the Immediate Future, By James Reed and Brian Simpson

Coal continues to power the economic engines of developing nations, particularly China and India, which together account for nearly 80% of global coal consumption. In 2024, global coal use hit a record 8.77 billion metric tons, with China consuming 4.6 billion tons (55% of the global total) and India 1.3 billion tons, projected to exceed 1.4 billion by 2027. These nations, home to 35% of the world's population, rely on coal for 56% and 70% of their electricity, respectively, fuelling industrialisation, urbanisation, and infrastructure.

China's Industrial Dominance: China's coal use supports its steel and cement production, which constitutes over half of global output. The article from Natural News.com highlights China's 30 new ultra-supercritical coal plants, designed for efficiency, as critical for powering AI data centres and sprawling cities. Coal's role in heavy industry, where alternatives like renewables lack the consistent high-energy output, ensures its necessity.

India's Growth Imperative: India's energy demand doubled since 2014, driven by a 6.5% annual economic growth rate and urbanisation. Coal meets 70% of its electricity needs, with projects like Adani's 1,500 MW plant in Uttar Pradesh vital for regions housing 80% of the global population. The article notes India's coal production is set to surpass 1 billion tons by 2025, reflecting its "coal-first" model to sustain growth.

Coal's affordability and availability make it the backbone for these economies, where per capita electricity consumption remains below global averages (India's is one-third). Unlike renewables, coal provides dispatchable power, critical for industries like steel, where one ton requires 0.8 tons of coal.

Energy Security and Grid Reliability

Coal's reliability as a baseload power source ensures energy security, especially in emerging economies facing volatile global markets and renewable intermittency. The article underscores coal as "the backstop of supply security" in China's 14th Five-Year Plan, a sentiment echoed in India, where coal mitigates power shortages.

China's Energy Strategy: China's 2021 power outages across 20 provinces highlighted coal's role in grid stability. With 140 billion tons of reserves, coal is a domestic resource, reducing reliance on imported gas amid price spikes (global LNG prices surged in 2021–2022). Coal plants ramp up quickly to balance renewable variability, unlike natural gas, which China lacks domestically.

India's Energy Challenges: India's 2024 heatwaves and hydropower shortages increased coal use by 10%, as renewables couldn't keep pace with a 5.4% rise in power demand. Coal's ability to operate round-the-clock, unlike solar or wind, makes it essential for non-pithead plants (156 of which had only 28% of required coal stocks in 2022).

Global Echoes: In Africa, South Africa's Eskom generates 70% of electricity from coal, while Zambia and Zimbabwe revive mines to counter shortages. Even the U.K., despite net-zero pledges, imports coking coal to sustain British Steel, illustrating coal's role in averting economic collapse.

Coal's dispatchable nature and stockpile ease make it a hedge against energy crises, as seen in Europe's 7% coal use spike in 2022 amid gas shortages.

AI and Data Centre Demands

The rise of AI infrastructure and data centres has intensified coal's relevance. The article notes that U.S. data centres consume 30% of grid capacity, with Trump's 2025 executive orders prioritising coal to power AI hubs and reduce electricity costs. In China, coal supports AI data centres, critical for technological leadership.

Energy Intensity: Data centres require consistent, high-volume power, which renewables struggle to provide due to intermittency. Coal's intense heat and reliability make it ideal as coal produces really intense heat and is fantastically cheap.

U.S. Policy Shift: Trump's orders fast-track coal mining in Alabama and Montana, eliminate EPA restrictions, and classify coal as a critical mineral. This aligns with Senate approvals for a 60% boost in metallurgical coal, vital for steel used in data centre construction. The Department of Energy estimates this could secure supply for AI computing, a growing global demand.

Limitations of Renewable Energy

Despite renewable growth, 585 GW added globally in 2024, 92.5% of new capacity, coal remains dominant because renewables cannot yet replace its reliability or scale. The article cites REN21's Rana Adib: "Renewables have not replaced fossil fuels, only kept pace with rising demand."

Intermittency and Infrastructure: Solar and wind require costly grid upgrades and storage solutions, which are uneconomical in developing nations. Southeast Asia needs $367 billion by 2030 for decarbonisation, but only $70 billion was invested annually from 2016–2020.

China and India's Renewable Gap: China added 356 GW of wind and solar in 2024, yet coal use grew 1.2% due to renewable curtailment (e.g., Q4 2024 saw sharp drops in solar/wind utilisation). India's solar output (113 TWh in 2023) trails coal's dominance, and hydropower's 13% share falters during droughts.

Advanced Economies' Struggles: In the U.S., 40 coal plants delayed closures due to grid insecurities from renewable intermittency. The U.K.'s coal imports for steel highlight renewables' inability to fully replace coal in industrial applications.

The IEA notes that renewables must grow 16.6% annually to meet 2030 climate targets, a pace deemed "wishful thinking" for coal-heavy nations.

Counterarguments and Rebuttals

Counterargument 1: Coal's Environmental Costs Are Too High

Critics argue coal's emissions, 5.56 billion tons of CO₂ from China alone in 2023, make it untenable, with air pollution supposedly causing 1.1 million deaths annually in China. Phasing out coal by 2040 is "cheap and easy" with existing renewable technologies, per Climate Analytics.

Rebuttal: Coal's phase-out is neither cheap nor easy in practice. China and India's renewable expansions (China's 35–40% of global wind/solar capacity, India's 113 TWh solar) haven't reduced coal use, only slowed emission growth. Coal's reliability and low cost ($50–$100/ton vs. $200+/MWh for unsubsidised renewables) make it indispensable for energy-starved regions. Cleaner coal technologies, like China's ultra-supercritical plants with carbon capture (e.g., Taizhou plant), mitigate emissions while maintaining output.

Counterargument 2: Renewables Can Meet Demand

Proponents claim renewables, backed by policies like India's 500 GW non-fossil target by 2030, can replace coal. China's 1,200 GW wind/solar goal by 2026 shows progress.

Rebuttal: Renewables' intermittency and infrastructure costs limit their ability to meet surging demand. China's 7% electricity demand growth in 2023 outpaced renewable additions, with coal filling the gap. India's coal plants operate at 55% capacity due to solar's competitiveness, but grid constraints and peak demand spikes necessitate coal's baseload role.

In conclusion, coal's immediate future is secure due to its unmatched reliability, affordability, and capacity to meet the energy demands of growing economies like China and India, which consume nearly 80% of global coal. It powers industrialisation, ensures energy security, and supports AI infrastructure, while renewables struggle with intermittency and cost. The article's claim of coal's "eternal reign" is exaggerated, but its role as an "energy staple" for the next few decades or more, is undeniable, with 3,000 years of reserves and policies like Trump's U.S. coal revival reinforcing its dominance. Coal's pragmatic necessity for 3.5 billion people in developing nations outweighs ideological calls for rapid phase-out. Cleaner coal technologies and gradual renewable integration offer a balanced path forward, ensuring energy security without sacrificing economic progress. And, if it is good enough for China and India, it is good enough for the West!

https://www.naturalnews.com/2025-06-21-asias-reliance-us-policies-fuel-global-coal-growth.html

China and India drive coal consumption to historic highs, with China accounting for 30% of global use and India projected to double U.S./EU consumption within a year.

Executive orders prioritize coal mining and export to support energy security and AI infrastructure.

Despite record growth, renewables fall short of replacing coal's dominance in power generation.

Coal remains vital for data centers, AI hubs and steel production amid rising energy demand.

Nations like the U.K. allegedly "hypocritically" support coal to avoid economic collapse despite climate pledges.

In 2024, global coal consumption reached an unprecedented 8.77 billion metric tons, with China and India driving a historic surge in reliance on the fossil fuel. Despite global climate accords, coal-generated electricity hit a record 10,700 terawatt-hours, accounting for 35% of the world's power supply. The International Energy Agency (IEA) attributes this boom to China's 56% global share and India's 70%-plus electricity dependence on coal. Meanwhile, the U.S. under President Donald Trump has championed coal as "clean and essential," revamping policies to accelerate mining and export. This shift underscores a stark reality: coal remains indispensable for economic growth and industrialization, complicating climate targets amid surging energy demands.

Asia's relentless coal boom and its global echo

China's coal use, already three times that of every other nation combined, soared past 4.4 billion tons in 2023 while India raced to produce 700 million tons, with projections of exceeding 1 billion tons by 2025. The pivot reflects a pragmatic calculus: coal meets 70% of India's electricity needs, while China relies on it for power for its sprawling cities, AI data centers and 30 new ultra-supercritical plants. Indonesia, Vietnam and the Philippines further fuel demand, mirroring the continent's "coal-first" growth model.

"Coal is the backbone of our energy security," said an Indian industry insider, noting that 1,500 MW plants like Adani's Uttar Pradesh project are pivotal in powering regions with 80% of the global population. Africa likewise resurrects lagging projects, with South Africa's Eskomcaptures 70% of electricity from coal, while Zambia and Zimbabwe restart mines to counter power shortages. Even the U.K., steadfast in its "net zero" rhetoric, quietly imports coking coal to bail out British Steel—a contradiction Christine Shearer of Global Energy Monitor terms "hypocrisy in action."

The U.S. pivot: Trump's executive orders reignite coal's political power

In April 2025, Trump's executive orders enshrined coal as a national priority, fast-tracking mines in Alabama and Montana while rescinding EPA restrictions on carbon emissions. The orders mandate agencies evaluate coal as a critical mineral, eliminate export barriers and expedite data center partnerships with coal infrastructure. The Department of Energy estimates this could reduce electricity costs and secure supply for AI computing hubs, which alone consume 30% of U.S. grid capacity.

"Our coal resources are worth trillions and ensure energy dominance," Trump declared. The policy reversal marks a sharp contrast to former climate regulations, removing "discriminations" against coal projects. This shift aligns with Senate approvals for Warrior Met's 60% boost in metallurgical coal production, vital to global steel demand.

Renewables: Growth vs. realities are uneven

While renewable energy surged by 585 gigawatts in 2024—92.5% of all capacity growth—the pace is insufficient. Environmentalists warn wind and solar must grow 16.6% annually until 2030 to meet targets, but developing economies caution renewables cannot yet replace coal's dependability. "Renewables have not replaced fossil fuels, only kept pace with rising demand," said Rana Adib of REN21. Even the IEA's projected 2030 peak hinges on China and India transitioning, a likelihood analysts dismiss as "wishful thinking."

In the U.S., renewables face challenges too, as 40 coal plants, including Appalachian hubs, delay closures over grid insecurities driven by solar/wind intermittency.

The global dilemma: Economic progress vs. climate aspirations

Decades after the Industrial Revolution, coal's seemingly eternal reign raises critical questions. Proponents argue it's a lifeline for billions, powering factories, transportation and basic services. Critics counter its environmental costs—China's 2023 CO2 emissions from coal alone hit 5.56 billion tons. Yet, as Vijay Jayaraj, once a child staring into energy-starved darkness in India, now observes: "Coal didn't just light my childhood—it ignited entire nations."

A new era of contradictions shapes energy's future

As coal's global dominance persists, the world faces a paradox: coal fuels modern economies, yet stifles climate goals. While renewables advance, coal's role as an "energy staple" for over 3,000 years of reserves secures its relevance. Whether through U.S. executive orders or Asia's expansion projects, coal's survival hinges less on eco-vows than on its unmatched capacity to meet humanity's hunger for energy. As nations prioritize growth over decarbonization, coal's kingship endures—a testament to old truths in a fractured world.