G
lobal coal consumption reached a record high of 8.77 billion metric tons in 2024, driven by increasing electricity demand that outpaced the growth of renewable energy. Despite its contribution to global warming, coal remains a dominant force in energy systems worldwide.

    The International Energy Agency (IEA) reported that coal consumption has doubled over the past three decades and is expected to continue rising in the short term. This increase is largely driven by countries like India and Indonesia, which offset reductions in coal use by advanced economies such as the US and EU.

    China plays a significant role in this trend, accounting for over a third of global coal consumption with 4.9 billion tons in 2024. Despite massive investments in renewable energy, coal-fired plants continue to generate about 60% of China's electricity. The country's coal imports also reached a record high of 542.7 million tons, up 14.4% from the previous year.

    Lower international coal prices allowed China to stockpile supplies and maintain stable domestic energy costs. Analysts estimate that China's coal consumption grew around 1%, despite subdued demand in the cement and steel sectors due to the real estate crisis.

    While China has made progress in diversifying its energy sources, with renewable energy capacity expected to account for almost 60% of global installed capacity by 2030, this has not been enough to significantly reduce coal consumption. The IEA predicts that China will continue setting annual records for coal use for at least a few more years.

    Global coal demand is expected to plateau by 2027, but this stabilization will occur at record-high levels. However, the agency's predictions should be viewed with caution, given its history of revising peak coal use estimates.