Lowest in 2 Decades: Global Coal PLTU Growth Reaches Just 44 GW in 2024
The capacity of the coal-fired steam power plant (PLTU) which started operating in 2024 only reached 44 Gigawatt (GW), the lowest figure in the last 20 years.
According to the report Boom and Bust Coal 2025 of Global Energy Monitor, this figure is far below the annual average over the last two decades which reached 72 G. For comparison, in 2004 the capacity of the PLTU only reached 37 GW.
The life of the PLTU exceeds the ideal limit
Christine Shearer, Project Manager at Global Energy Monitor, mentions that more than 200 GW capacity of PLTU has been in operation for more than 40 years. This exceeds the global average shelf life of PLTU, which is 37 years.
Although the addition of new PLTU in 2024 only reached 44 GW, this figure is still higher than the capacity of the retired PLTU, namely 25.2 G. Thus, it happens net increase of 18.8 GW globally.
Reduction of PLTU in Western Countries
Several factors led to the low capacity of the new PLTU in 2024:
European Union stop the operation of the PLTU until 11 w, increased drastically from 2.7 GW in 2023. Germany contributed 6.7 GW of this total.
English officially closed its last PLTU, becoming the sixth coal-free country since Paris Agreement 2015.
United States of America stop the power plant as big as 4.7 GW, the lowest since 2015. However, some energy companies such as Pacificorp, Duke Energy, and Georgia Power postpone or cancel the closure plan.
New PLTU construction led China and India
While Western countries reduce dependence on coal, China actually broke a new record:
China started the construction of the PLTU with total capacity 94 GW In 2024—the highest since 2015. This is due to the surge in the issuance of PLTU permits between 2022–2023.
Christine warned that if this trend continues, then the commitment President Xi Jinping To top the use of coal in 2025 can be missed.
On the other hand, India Planning development 38 W This new PLTU is driven by a new boost to coal energy after a pause of several years.
Joint China and India Projects donated 92% Of the total global coal capacity plan in 2024, which is 107 GW out of a total of 116 GW.
Global trend towards decline
Outside of China and India, the construction of the power plant has decreased drastically—more than 80% in a decade. from 445 GW in 2015 to only 80 w in 2024.
only 10 countries contributed 96% of the increase in the capacity of the PLTU.
Number of Countries which plans to build a power plant down from 12 countries (2023) to 8 countries (2024).
Among the 38 member countries OECD, the new PLTU project decreased from 142 (2015) to 5 countries Currently.
However, in order to reach the target Paris Agreement, the speed of stopping the PLTU is necessary tripled—from 19 GW in 2024 to 70 GW per year until 2030.
Indonesia’s position in the energy transition
Indonesia is committed ending the use of coal power plants in 2040. However, a detailed strategy and policy design is needed, considering that the construction of a crude-based PLTU is still ongoing.
The capacity of the proposed PLTU in Indonesia has decreased 90%, from 49.7 GW in 2015 to only 4.9 GW in 2024.
neighboring countries such as Malaysia targeting coal cessation in 2044, while at Philippines, delayed PLTU projects, and Vietnamese is developing a fair energy transition strategy.
Situations in other areas
Africa: Zimbabwe and Zambia are increasing the capacity of the PLTU, funded by Chinese companies, although China has promised to stop the PLTU overseas project.
Latin America: almost all countries are close to zero for the new PLTU project, except Brazil and Honduras who still have an old proposal. Panama target free coal on 2026.
East asia: Japan and South Korea still support PLTU through Combustion of ammonium combined, although it is considered expensive and less efficient.
