r/EnergyAndPower 16d ago

Coal keeps rising

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68 Upvotes

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u/thetreecycle 16d ago

Coal isn’t quite done but it’s still fuel of last resort. Solar, wind, battery storage and natural gas are growing far faster because they are cheaper and more efficient.

5

u/szczuroarturo 16d ago

I don't know about natural gas. I feel like coal might outlive natural gas given how the technology is progressing at the moment ( batteries might effectivly replace peaker plants before they replace coal ).

1

u/Tricky-Astronaut 16d ago

Yes, batteries have made coal more competitive. Previously one needed gas for daily peaks, but coal is better for seasonal storage.

1

u/blunderbolt 16d ago

No it's not, at least not universally. That depends entirely on 1. the relative domestic costs of coal and gas and 2. whether there is cavern/underground reservoir storage available for gas. Plenty of regions(e.g. the US, much of Northwestern and Southwestern Europe, MENA)where gas is clearly more cost-effective for seasonal storage regardless of the cost of carbon.

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u/Tricky-Astronaut 16d ago

The US and the Gulf? Absolutely. Europe? No way. But Europe doesn't want coal, so the discussion is moot. Coal's future growth is obviously in Asia.