LowCarbonPower logo

36% of global electricity is generated from Coal

35.72 % Share of global electricity
820 gCO2eq/kWh Carbon Intensity

Coal is a robustly established form of fossil fuel energy that has been widely used across the globe for centuries. It is a black or brownish-black sedimentary rock that is primarily composed of carbon. Noted for its high energy content, coal has served as a fundamental powerhouse for various industries over the years. While other low-carbon energy sources such as wind, nuclear, and solar have been proliferating and gaining increased recognition for their environmental advantages, coal remains a prevalent source of energy worldwide due to its abundance and easy accessibility.

To generate electricity from coal, the process generally involves its combustion in a power plant. The coal is typically pulverized, converted into a fine powder, and then ignited to produce heat. This heat is then used to boil water and generate steam, which subsequently drives a steam turbine connected to an electric generator. In this way, the thermal energy from the ignited coal is converted into mechanical energy by the steam turbine and finally into electrical energy by the generator.

However, there are numerous disadvantages associated with the use of this fossil fuel source. Perhaps the most notable one is its carbon intensity. In terms of carbon emissions, coal averages a significant 820 gCO2eq/kWh, which makes it one of the most carbon-intensive energy sources. In sharp contrast, low-carbon energy sources such as wind, nuclear, and solar exhibit significantly lower carbon intensities, averaging around 11, 12, and 45 gCO2eq/kWh respectively.

Air pollution is another serious drawback of using coal. Coal-based power plants emit a wide range of toxic byproducts into the air, including sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, particulates, and heavy metals like mercury and lead. These pollutants have been linked with a range of detrimental health impacts, including respiratory diseases and heart conditions. In contrast, clean energy alternatives such as nuclear, wind, and solar energy do not produce these harmful emissions during operation, making them attractive options for sustainable, green energy.

Country/Region Watts / person % TWh
Republic of China (Taiwan) 603.0 W 43.5% 126.0 TWh
Brunei 594.6 W 49.5% 2.3 TWh
Australia 529.7 W 47.8% 120.3 TWh
South Korea 453.2 W 33.9% 205.8 TWh
People's Republic of China 434.2 W 61.2% 5423.6 TWh
Kazakhstan 402.8 W 60.1% 67.7 TWh
Czechia 401.5 W 43.4% 37.0 TWh
Serbia 370.9 W 60.0% 23.7 TWh
Poland 369.8 W 69.2% 124.1 TWh
Bulgaria 366.2 W 43.7% 22.1 TWh
South Africa 350.4 W 85.3% 182.3 TWh
Bosnia & Herzegovina 348.3 W 61.5% 10.0 TWh
Guadeloupe 331.3 W 68.8% 1.2 TWh
Hong Kong SAR China 317.3 W 43.6% 20.8 TWh
Japan 292.8 W 33.1% 319.6 TWh
United States 280.6 W 19.1% 828.2 TWh
Montenegro 280.0 W 47.7% 1.5 TWh
Israel 256.7 W 27.4% 20.0 TWh
Malaysia 256.6 W 41.8% 75.5 TWh
Germany 247.7 W 31.1% 181.0 TWh
Mongolia 226.1 W 74.5% 6.6 TWh
North Macedonia 190.6 W 40.3% 3.5 TWh
Slovenia 172.9 W 22.0% 3.2 TWh
Laos 166.2 W 27.0% 10.8 TWh
Russia 154.7 W 17.6% 196.6 TWh
Turkey 149.6 W 33.8% 111.1 TWh
The World 147.1 W 35.7% 10188.5 TWh
Moldova 139.1 W 38.9% 3.7 TWh
Chile 117.8 W 24.2% 20.1 TWh
Vietnam 116.6 W 37.6% 99.5 TWh
EU 114.5 W 15.9% 446.2 TWh
India 110.5 W 74.2% 1363.1 TWh
Canada 109.5 W 5.7% 36.6 TWh
Netherlands 95.2 W 12.0% 14.6 TWh
Indonesia 79.2 W 61.3% 190.0 TWh
Botswana 78.9 W 44.4% 1.8 TWh
Morocco 73.5 W 56.5% 23.9 TWh
Denmark 70.6 W 10.0% 3.6 TWh
Mauritius 62.4 W 24.7% 0.7 TWh
Ukraine 61.4 W 20.9% 23.4 TWh
Finland 61.2 W 3.5% 3.0 TWh
Romania 61.2 W 18.0% 10.4 TWh
Thailand 60.4 W 17.1% 37.9 TWh
Greece 59.7 W 9.8% 5.5 TWh
Ireland 56.3 W 7.2% 2.5 TWh
Philippines 52.8 W 46.7% 52.7 TWh
Dominican Republic 46.7 W 25.9% 4.5 TWh
Croatia 42.4 W 7.9% 1.5 TWh
Italy 40.8 W 6.6% 21.2 TWh
Hungary 34.1 W 6.1% 2.9 TWh
Slovakia 32.3 W 5.5% 1.5 TWh
Uzbekistan 31.1 W 15.0% 9.3 TWh
New Zealand 31.0 W 3.2% 1.4 TWh
Zimbabwe 25.6 W 36.6% 3.6 TWh
Cambodia 25.1 W 29.7% 3.6 TWh
Kyrgyzstan 24.3 W 9.6% 1.4 TWh
Sri Lanka 22.2 W 25.9% 4.2 TWh
Mexico 18.8 W 5.9% 20.9 TWh
Spain 18.3 W 2.7% 7.6 TWh
Panama 18.1 W 6.2% 0.7 TWh
Guatemala 17.9 W 19.1% 2.8 TWh
North Korea 10.7 W 16.8% 2.4 TWh
Colombia 10.0 W 5.3% 4.5 TWh
United Kingdom 8.9 W 1.6% 5.2 TWh
Bangladesh 8.6 W 13.8% 12.8 TWh
Brazil 8.3 W 2.2% 15.7 TWh
France 7.8 W 0.9% 4.4 TWh
Pakistan 6.9 W 9.1% 14.0 TWh
Argentina 6.8 W 1.7% 2.7 TWh
Tajikistan 6.8 W 2.9% 0.6 TWh
Honduras 6.0 W 4.5% 0.5 TWh
Zambia 5.2 W 5.0% 0.9 TWh
Namibia 2.3 W 1.3% 0.1 TWh
Myanmar (Burma) 1.9 W 4.0% 0.9 TWh
Peru 1.9 W 0.9% 0.6 TWh
Austria 1.8 W 0.2% 0.1 TWh
Madagascar 1.0 W 12.4% 0.3 TWh
Iran 0.9 W 0.2% 0.7 TWh
Norway 0.8 W 0.0% 0.0 TWh
Senegal 0.8 W 2.0% 0.1 TWh
Portugal 0.7 W 0.1% 0.1 TWh
Syria 0.5 W 0.5% 0.1 TWh
Belgium 0.4 W 0.0% 0.0 TWh
Nigeria 0.3 W 1.9% 0.6 TWh
Sweden 0.1 W 0.0% 0.0 TWh