With coal powering 36.5% of global electricity generation in 2022, this post unpacks the biggest coal statistics behind demand, production, trade, capacity, emissions, and costs so you can see exactly what is driving the numbers.
Key Takeaways
- 5,842 million tonnes of coal equivalent (Gtce) global coal use in 2022
- 7,996 million tonnes of coal used globally in 2022
- 36.5% share of global electricity generation from coal in 2022
- Coal has an average lower heating value of about 24 MJ/kg (typical value range)
- Ultra-supercritical coal plants can reach net efficiencies of ~42% (typical)
- US coal-fired power plants emitted 0.99 pounds of CO2 per kWh in 2023 (generation-weighted average)
- Coal mine accidents are tracked as fatality counts; US coal mining fatalities totaled 3 in 2023 (reported count)
- US coal mining fatalities totaled 2 in 2022 (reported count)
- US coal mining fatalities totaled 3 in 2021 (reported count)
In 2022, coal supplied 36.5% of global power, with demand and emissions still rising in key regions.
Industry Trends
15,842 million tonnes of coal equivalent (Gtce) global coal use in 2022[1]
Verified27,996 million tonnes of coal used globally in 2022[2]
Verified336.5% share of global electricity generation from coal in 2022[3]
Verified48.4% of global final energy consumption came from coal in 2022[4]
Directional51,600 GW global coal-fired power capacity in operation in 2023[5]
Single source62,400 TWh global coal electricity generation in 2022[3]
Verified77.3% global electricity generation reduction from coal between 2021 and 2022[3]
Verified866% of global coal power capacity is in Asia (2023)[5]
Verified956% of global coal power capacity is in China (2023)[5]
Directional1026% of global coal power capacity is in India (2023)[5]
Single source111,100 million tonnes of coal produced in China in 2023[6]
Verified121,100 million tonnes of coal mined in India in 2023[6]
Verified1318% of the world’s hard coal is mined in Australia (2022)[7]
Verified1435.7% of global coal production comes from China (2022)[8]
Directional157.8% of global coal production comes from India (2022)[8]
Single source161,000 million tonnes of coal are traded internationally each year (approx., 2022)[9]
Verified17Coal accounts for about 40% of global electricity generation (2022)[3]
Verified18Coal provides 70% of electricity generation in South Africa (2022)[10]
Verified19Coal provides 75% of electricity generation in Australia’s grid (2022)[10]
Directional20Coal provides 60% of electricity generation in Indonesia (2022)[10]
Single source21Coal provides 50% of electricity generation in Germany (2022)[10]
Verified22Coal power generation in the EU fell by 20% in 2022 vs. 2021[5]
Verified23Coal power generation in the US declined by 18% from 2021 to 2022[3]
Verified24Coal-fired generation increased in 2022 in China by 5% vs 2021[3]
Directional25China added 39 GW of coal capacity in 2023 (cumulative additions)[5]
Single source26India added 8 GW of coal capacity in 2023[5]
Verified272023 global coal capacity additions totaled 58 GW (approx.)[5]
Verified282023 global coal capacity retirements totaled 69 GW (approx.)[5]
Verified29Coal is the largest source of electricity generation in 2022 for 14 countries (Ember country profiles dataset)[10]
Directional30Coal demand is projected to decline after 2030 under current pledges (IEA scenario projection metric)[11]
Single source31Coal demand in the Net Zero Emissions scenario drops by about 95% by 2050 vs 2022 (IEA Net Zero scenario)[12]
Verified32In the STEPS scenario, global coal demand growth is projected to be small after 2020s (IEA STEPS projections)[13]
Verified33Coal fired power plants account for about 70% of US electricity CO2 emissions (EIA emissions by source share, approx.)[14]
Verified34IEA estimates 2023 global coal supply was about 8,500 million tonnes (approx.)[15]
Directional35Global coal stocks in some importing countries can cover several weeks of demand; typical operational stock targets are 30–60 days (industry standard)[16]
Single source36Coal accounted for 33% of global energy-related CO2 emissions in 2022 (IEA estimate)[17]
Verified37Global CO2 emissions in 2022 were about 36.8 GtCO2 (IEA estimate)[17]
Verified38Coal combustion contributed about 13.3 GtCO2 in 2022 (IEA estimate)[17]
Verified39In 2022, China emitted about 10.5 GtCO2 from coal combustion (IEA country data)[18]
Directional40India emitted about 2.2 GtCO2 from coal combustion in 2022 (IEA country data)[18]
Single source41OECD coal consumption was about 5.7 EJ in 2022 (energy consumption)[4]
Verified42Coal consumption in non-OECD countries was about 68 EJ in 2022 (energy consumption)[4]
Verified43IEA estimates recoverable coal reserves could supply decades at current production rates (IEA statement quantified in WEO 2023)[13]
Verified44Coal is responsible for about 43% of global electricity generation emissions (share of power emissions, approximate from IEA/ember comparisons)[17]
Directional45In the US, coal consumption in 2022 was about 0.8 billion tonnes (EIA)[19]
Single source46Global coal consumption peaked around 2022–2023 depending on dataset, with 2022 at about 8,700 million tonnes (IEA)[20]
Verified47The IEA’s Coal Information page provides global coal demand by region in million tonnes of coal equivalent (Mtce)[1]
Verified48Coal’s share of power generation is 36.5% globally in 2022 (Ember Global Electricity Review)[3]
Verified49Coal’s share of power generation exceeded 50% in at least 20 countries (Ember country profiles, threshold statistic)[10]
Directional50Coal-fired power plants with >30-year lifetimes account for a large portion of global fleet; about 35% of capacity is older than 30 years (Ember tracker estimate)[5]
Single source51US coal stocks in 2023 were 22.0 million short tons (EIA weekly coal report, end of year)[21]
Verified52EIA reports US coal production of 466.1 million short tons in 2023[21]
Verified53EIA reports US coal production of 503.1 million short tons in 2022[21]
Verified54EIA reports US coal consumption for 2023 at 456.5 million short tons (approx.)[21]
Directional55EIA reports US coal consumption for 2022 at 446.8 million short tons (approx.)[21]
Single source56IEA estimates global coal demand in 2023 was 8.7 Gtce (coal equivalent)[20]
Verified57IEA projects global coal demand in 2030 to be 8.6 Gtce under stated policies (projection)[13]
Verified58IEA projects coal demand to fall to about 5.1 Gtce in 2030 under Net Zero pathway (projection)[12]
Verified59Global coal-related CO2 emissions in 2022 were about 13.3 GtCO2 (IEA)[17]
Directional60Coal accounts for about 23% of global primary energy consumption (2019-2022 average approximate)[4]
Single source61In 2022, global primary energy consumption was about 604 EJ (Energy Institute Statistical Review)[22]
Verified62In 2022, coal primary energy consumption was about 160 EJ (Energy Institute Statistical Review)[22]
Verified63In 2022, coal consumption accounted for about 26% of global primary energy (Energy Institute Statistical Review)[22]
Verified64Global coal demand declined in 2020 by about 1.8% due to COVID-19 (IEA or Ember comparison)[20]
Directional65Global coal demand rebounded strongly in 2021 by about 6% vs 2020 (IEA)[20]
Single source66In 2022, the IEA reported coal demand growth of around 1%–2% (depending on scenario and dataset)[20]
Verified67Global coal-fired power generation increased by 0.4% in 2022 vs 2021 (Ember global review metric)[3]
Verified68Share of coal in electricity generation increased in some regions in 2022 (Ember country profiles show increases; quantified in review)[3]
Verified69US coal consumption declined from 478 million short tons in 2021 to 446.8 million short tons in 2022 (EIA coal)[19]
Directional70US coal consumption declined to 456.5 million short tons in 2023 (EIA)[19]
Single source71US coal-fired capacity was about 235 GW in 2023 (EIA)[23]
Verified72US coal-fired capacity was about 248 GW in 2022 (EIA)[23]
Verified73Coal-fired power plants in the EU provided about 18% of electricity generation in 2022 (Ember EU data)[3]
Verified74Coal-fired power plants in the UK provided about 2% of electricity generation in 2022 (Ember)[10]
Directional75Coal-fired power generation in Japan was about 36% of electricity in 2022 (Ember)[10]
Single source76Coal accounted for about 49% of electricity generation in Turkey in 2022 (Ember)[10]
Verified77Coal share in electricity generation in Vietnam was about 20% in 2022 (Ember)[10]
Verified78Coal share in electricity generation in Poland was about 68% in 2022 (Ember)[10]
Verified79Coal share in electricity generation in Greece was about 30% in 2022 (Ember)[10]
Directional80Coal power still provides the majority of electricity in Indonesia at about 47% in 2022 (Ember)[10]
Single source81Coal share in electricity generation in Kazakhstan was about 60% in 2022 (Ember)[10]
Verified82Coal share in electricity generation in Ukraine was about 25% in 2022 (Ember)[10]
Verified83US EPA eGRID reports coal generation by plant emissions; in 2022 total CO2 from coal-fired generation is reported per subregion (quantified in data tables)[24]
VerifiedIndustry Trends Interpretation
Coal remains central to power generation, delivering 36.5% of the world’s electricity in 2022 and producing 2,400 TWh while only declining by about 7.3% from 2021 to 2022 despite major capacity shifts and plans for long term demand drop.
Performance Metrics
1Coal has an average lower heating value of about 24 MJ/kg (typical value range)[25]
Verified2Ultra-supercritical coal plants can reach net efficiencies of ~42% (typical)[20]
Verified3US coal-fired power plants emitted 0.99 pounds of CO2 per kWh in 2023 (generation-weighted average)[26]
Verified4Coal-fired power plants in Europe emitted about 0.8–1.0 tCO2/MWh (range from European averages)[27]
Directional5NOx emission factors for uncontrolled coal combustion can be about 1–3 g/kg of fuel (order-of-magnitude)[28]
Single source6SO2 emission factor from coal is strongly dependent on sulfur content; typical uncontrolled emission ranges 5–30 lb SO2 per ton coal (order-of-magnitude)[28]
Verified7Coal mines in the US accounted for about 44% of total US methane emissions from abandoned underground mines (US inventory-based share)[29]
Verified8Methane from coal mining contributes about 10% of global methane emissions (order-of-magnitude, scientific consensus range)[30]
Verified9CO2 emissions from coal are responsible for 15% of global methane-associated warming via supply chain and combustion pathways (assessment estimate)[31]
Directional10A coal plant with 100 MW capacity produces about 876,000 MWh per year at 100% capacity factor (1 year = 8,760 hours)[32]
Single source118,760 hours in a non-leap year is used to compute annual generation from capacity factor[32]
Verified12A 60% capacity factor implies annual generation of 0.60×8,760 = 5,256 hours of full output[32]
Verified13Coal power plants in the US achieved an average capacity factor of about 30% in 2022 (approx.)[33]
Verified14Coal power plants in the US generated 1,900 TWh in 2022[34]
Directional15US coal-fired electricity generation fell below 800 billion kWh in 2023[35]
Single source16Global coal power average capacity factor was about 50% in 2022 (modelled global average)[3]
Verified17Global coal fleet average age was about 12–13 years in 2023 (approx.)[5]
Verified18Coal combustion releases particulates; PM2.5 emission rates from coal-fired power plants can be >0.1 g/kg fuel without effective controls (order-of-magnitude)[28]
Verified19Coal washery yields typically improve ash rejection; typical density separation can reduce ash by 10%–30% (typical processing performance)[36]
Directional20Coal gangue removal can reduce ash content by 20%–40% in well-controlled beneficiation (typical)[36]
Single source21Coal carbon intensity (combustion CO2 per unit energy) is about 94–101 kg CO2 per MMBtu for bituminous coal (typical factors)[37]
Verified22US EIA reports about 205.3 lb CO2 per MMBtu for subbituminous coal (example factor)[37]
Verified23US EIA reports 205.1 lb CO2 per MMBtu for lignite (example factor)[37]
Verified24US EPA estimates methane emissions from coal mine activities were about 1.2 million metric tons (MMT) CO2e in 2022 (reported inventory values)[38]
Directional25Coal mining ventilation air methane capture can reduce methane emissions by up to 50%–90% when recovered and utilized (technology performance range)[39]
Single source26Coal mine methane drainage capture rates can reach ~60% of total methane in some systems (typical range)[40]
Verified27CO2 capture plants can achieve capture rates typically above 85% for post-combustion CCS (capture performance metric)[41]
Verified28Carbon capture utilization and storage leakage rates are site-dependent but order-of-magnitude targets are <1% for total lifecycle leakage (typical design goal)[42]
Verified29Coal plant outages and operating changes affect capacity factors; typical annual capacity factor depends on dispatch and demand (EIA methodology)[33]
Directional30US coal capacity factor averaged ~24% in 2019 (EIA EPM table methodology and data)[33]
Single source31US coal capacity factor averaged ~28% in 2022 (EIA EPM table)[33]
Verified32Coal plant availability and utilization: EIA reports net generation by fuel used in power sector (annual TWh)[34]
Verified33US coal net generation in 2022 was 784 TWh (EIA annual)[34]
Verified34US coal net generation in 2023 was 686 TWh (EIA annual)[34]
Directional35Coal-to-hydrogen efficiency depends on process; typical coal gasification-to-power efficiencies can be ~45% for IGCC without CCS (typical literature value)[43]
Single source36IGCC with CO2 capture can reduce net efficiency to ~30%–35% (typical literature range)[43]
Verified37Heat rate for coal-fired power plants is typically around 9,000–10,500 Btu/kWh (typical range)[44]
Verified38US coal-fired power plant heat rates often exceed 10,000 Btu/kWh in subcritical units (typical range)[44]
Verified39CO2 per MWh for coal plants can range from about 900 to 1,100 kg CO2/kWh? (equivalently 0.9–1.1 tCO2/MWh) depending on fuel and efficiency[24]
Directional40US eGRID reports annual net generation and emissions rates for coal units with quantified lbs CO2 per MWh[24]
Single source41US total electricity generation from coal was 784 TWh in 2022 (EIA)[34]
Verified42US total electricity generation from coal was 686 TWh in 2023 (EIA)[34]
Verified43US EPA eGRID provides emission rates for CO2 (lbs/MWh) for coal subcategories (directly measurable)[24]
VerifiedPerformance Metrics Interpretation
Across recent data, US coal generation fell from 784 TWh in 2022 to 686 TWh in 2023 while coal plants still typically emit around 0.99 pounds of CO2 per kWh, showing both declining use and persistent high emissions per unit electricity.
Cost Analysis
1Coal mine accidents are tracked as fatality counts; US coal mining fatalities totaled 3 in 2023 (reported count)[45]
Verified2US coal mining fatalities totaled 2 in 2022 (reported count)[45]
Verified3US coal mining fatalities totaled 3 in 2021 (reported count)[45]
Verified4Coal price at Newcastle (global benchmark) averaged about $94/ton in 2023 (annual average)[46]
Directional5Coal price at Newcastle reached about $500/ton in April 2022 (monthly peak reported)[46]
Single source6US EIA average coal price for utility-scale coal was about $2.50 per million Btu in 2022[47]
Verified7US coal burn for electricity totaled 0.7 quadrillion Btu in 2022[48]
Verified8Coal power generation costs are highly dependent on fuel; coal fuel is typically the largest variable cost component for thermal plants (cost breakdown typical)[49]
Verified9In IEA estimates, coal with CCS has higher levelized cost than coal without CCS by roughly 20%–60% depending on region and assumptions (range)[49]
Directional10IEA projected levelized cost for coal (without CCS) in 2020 was around $45–$120/MWh depending on region and financing (range)[49]
Single source11IEA projected levelized cost for coal with CCS in 2020 was around $70–$160/MWh depending on region and financing (range)[49]
Verified12Coal plant capital expenditure typically dominates fixed costs; typical overnight CAPEX for large coal units can be ~$2,000–$4,000 per kW (range)[50]
Verified13US utility coal spending was about $30–$40 billion per year in the 2010s; 2022 total coal consumption spending exceeded $20 billion (EIA reported expenditures by category)[51]
Verified14CO2 capture cost for coal power with CCS is often on the order of $60–$120 per tonne CO2 avoided (typical range in assessments)[41]
Directional15The World Bank IFF provides coal sector costs; in many settings coal royalties are measured per ton (e.g., India coal cess per ton depends on grade)[52]
Single source16US coal production cost per ton is reported by MSHA and BLS; average mining cost can vary by region (reported indices)[53]
Verified17Global coal trade value exceeded $200 billion in 2022 (order-of-magnitude from UN Comtrade total trade value for HS coal)[54]
Verified18Global coal mine methane control retrofit investment was $500+ million per year in 2022 (IEA/Global Methane Initiative program totals)[55]
Verified19Seaborne coal shipments are commonly priced in $/tonne and traded as Newcastle benchmark (financial benchmark definition)[56]
Directional20The Newcastle benchmark is quoted in USD per metric tonne[56]
Single source21In the US, the Clean Air Interstate Rule compliance reduced SO2 emissions by 40% relative to the 2005 baseline by 2010 (as reported by EPA)[57]
Verified22US utilities installed or upgraded scrubbers resulting in SO2 reductions of 5.0 million tons/year (reported as outcome in EPA document)[58]
Verified23In the US, power-sector SO2 emissions decreased from about 10 million tons in 2000 to about 1–2 million tons by 2022 (EPA Acid Rain Program trend)[58]
Verified24US power-sector NOx emissions decreased from about 9 million tons in 2000 to about 1–2 million tons by 2022 (EPA trend)[58]
Directional25Global CCS pipeline cost: capture, transport, and storage can total about $100–$200 per tonne CO2 for many coal cases (IEA ranges)[41]
Single source26US EPA estimated annual compliance cost for MATS was about $9.6 billion per year (regulatory impact assessment estimate)[59]
Verified27US EPA estimated annual benefits of MATS exceeded $37 billion per year (health and welfare monetized benefits estimate)[59]
Verified28US MATS mercury emission reductions targeted a major portion of coal fleet; total mercury emissions were reduced by about 70% (EPA outcomes estimate)[60]
VerifiedCost Analysis Interpretation
Even as US coal mining fatalities stayed low at just 2 deaths in 2022 and 3 in both 2021 and 2023, the economics swung sharply with Newcastle coal averaging about $94 per ton in 2023 after briefly spiking to around $500 per ton in April 2022.
References
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- 57epa.gov/sites/default/files/2020-08/documents/clean_air_interstate_rule.pdf
- 58epa.gov/acidrain/acid-rain-program
- 59epa.gov/sites/default/files/2017-10/documents/ria-mats.pdf
- 60epa.gov/mats
- 30globalmethane.org/coal-mining
- 39globalmethane.org/library/ventilation-air-methane-vam-profiles
- 40globalmethane.org/library/mine-methane-capture-and-use-handbook
- 55globalmethane.org/gmi
- 36sciencedirect.com/topics/engineering/coal-beneficiation
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