IEA: Coal production will grow in 2021

The International Energy Agency (IEA) expects global coal generation to recover and grow by 3% in 2021, after the largest-ever drop of 5% in 2020, Report informs, citing the statement on the agency's website.

"We estimate that coal generation will fall by 5% in 2020, which is the biggest drop in history. Thus, it will return to the levels last recorded in 2012. The growth of renewable generation will remain the main story of 2021, but coal generation is also expected to return to normal, " the report says.

According to the information, the volume of installed capacity of "green" energy will break a new record of 200 GW in 2020, and electricity production based on renewable sources will show a significant increase — by 7%, replacing traditional generation. The gas generation will fall by 2%, and carbon dioxide emissions into the atmosphere will decrease by 5%.

Besides, in 2021, despite new records in renewable energy, in developing economies, the growth of electricity demand will overtake RES's growth rate, which will make it possible to build coal and gas generation.

"We expect coal-fired power generation to increase by 3%, while gas-fired power plants will raise production by 1%. It will lead to an increase in CO2 emissions in the energy sector by about 2% in 2021," the agency concludes.