Legislation and initiatives to abandon coal
Big economies
On June 8, 2015, several newspapers published an article in which the leaders of the G-7 (or G7: Canada, France, Germany, Italy, Japan, the United Kingdom and the United States) agreed to abandon fossil fuels by 2100, as part of efforts to keep global temperature rise below 2 °C.[54][55] This was done as a prelude to the United Nations Climate Change Conference. 2015 (also known as COP 21) held in Paris in December of that same year.
Australia
The Australian Greens party has proposed abandoning coal-fired power generation. The New South Wales Greens have proposed an immediate moratorium on coal-fired power plants and want to end all coal mining and subsidies to the coal industry. The Australian Greens and the Australian Labor Party also oppose nuclear power. The federal and state governments of Victoria wanted to modify existing coal plants to make them clean, but three consecutive attempts failed and the idea was abandoned. In any case, producing electricity with a "clean" coal plant is 700 times more polluting than producing it with sun or wind. renewable energy in Australia. This country is one of the largest consumers of coal per capita, and also the largest exporter. These proposals were strongly opposed by industry, unions and the Australian Liberal Party (which came into government after the September 2013 election).[58]
Canada
In 2005, Canada burned 60 million tonnes of coal, mainly for electricity generation, increasing by 15% annually.
In November 2016 it announced plans to abandon coal-fired power generation by 2030.[59].
Canadian legislation to abandon coal began in 2005 in Ontario.[60] This province consumed 15 million tons of coal annually in large power plants to complement nuclear power plants. The Nanticoke plant was a major source of air pollution, and Ontario suffered days of smog during the summer.[61]
In 2007, the Ontario Liberal government pledged to abandon all coal generation in the province by 2014. Provincial President Dalton McGuinty stated: “By 2030 there will be approximately 1,000 more coal-fired power plants on this planet. There is only one place in the world that is moving away from coal generation, and we are doing it here in Ontario. electricity.[64] Ontario's last coal-fired power plant, Thunder Bay, stopped burning coal in April 2014.[65].
China
There are currently no national plans to abandon coal-fired power generation in the People's Republic of China.
China's extremely high energy demand has driven relatively cheap coal-fired power generation. Every week another 2 GW of this generation is connected to the Chinese electricity grid. Coal meets approximately 80% of China's energy needs, and this proportion is expected to continue as electricity use grows rapidly. This massive use of coal has produced a serious deterioration in air quality and many Chinese cities suffer from severe episodes of toxic smog.[66].
As a consequence, the Beijing region has decided to abandon coal generation by the end of 2015.[67].
In 2009, China had 172 GW of installed hydropower capacity, the largest in the world, producing 16% of China's electricity. The 11th five-year plan has set a target of 300 GW by 2020. China built the most powerful power plant (of any type) in the world, the Three Gorges Dam (22.5 GW).
In addition to huge investments in coal-fired power plants, China has 32 nuclear plants under construction, the highest number in the world.[68].
A 2016 analysis shows that China's coal consumption appears to have peaked in 2014.[69][70].
European Union
In July 2014, the European branch of the Climate Action Network, the European policy office of the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF), the Health and Climate Alliance (HEAL), the European Environment Bureau (EEB) and the German Climate Alliance published a report calling for the closure of the 30 most polluting coal-fired power plants in Europe.[71]
As part of its climate policy plan, Denmark declared that by 2030 it will abandon oil for heating, and coal for all purposes. Furthermore, its goal is to supply 100% of its electricity and heating needs with renewable energy 5 years later (i.e. 2035).[72].
In December 2017, to fight global warming, France adopted a law that prohibits new fossil fuel exploitation and plans to close current ones by 2040 in all its territories. France thus became the first country to schedule the end of the exploitation of these fuels.[73][74].
Hard coal mining has long been subsidized in Germany, reaching a peak of €6.7 billion in 1996 and falling to €2.7 billion in 2005 due to declining production. These subsidies represent a burden on public finances and imply a substantial opportunity cost, taking money away from other, more beneficial public investments.[75].
In 2007, Germany announced plans to abandon subsidies for the coal industry by 2018, a step that is expected to put an end to the coal industry in that country. growing.[81] Coal is still the country's largest energy source.
In 2007 German Chancellor Angela Merkel and her party agreed on legislation to close coal mines. This does not mean that they support abandoning coal in general. There were plans to build approximately 25 new coal-fired power plants. Most German coal-fired power plants were built between 1960 and 1970, and their energy efficiency was low. Popular sentiment against some of these plants is growing, and construction or plans for several have been halted. Others continue to be built. There is no concrete plan in place to reduce coal generation. As of October 2015, coal-fired power plants still planned include: Niederaussem, Profen and Stade. Those under construction include: Mannheim, Hamm D, Datteln, and Willhelmshaven. Between 2012 and 2015, 6 new plants were connected to the network. The power of all these plants is between 600 and 1,800 MW.[82].
In 2014 coal consumption fell for the first time in Germany, having increased every year since the 2009 recession low.[83].
It is sometimes said that coal is making a comeback in Germany, but a 2014 study finds that this is not the case. Renewables have more than compensated for the nuclear facilities closed as a result of Germany's abandonment of nuclear energy (Atomausstieg), triggered by the Fukushima nuclear disaster.[84] Current anthracite thermal power plants now face financial difficulties as the market restricts their operating hours (renewable ones cover a good part of the demand, and thermal ones only come into operation if renewable production is insufficient). But on the other hand, lignite generation is in a secure position until approximately 2025, unless the current policy changes. To abandon coal, Germany should strengthen the European Union Emissions Trading Scheme (EU-ETS), consider a carbon dioxide tax, promote energy efficiency and strengthen the use of natural gas as a bridge fuel.[85].
India
India is the third largest consumer of coal in the world. Its energy minister is planning to stop importing coal for power generation in 2018.[96] The Ministry of Energy's annual report has a plan to increase installed power by approximately 80 GW as part of its 11th five-year plan. 79% of this growth will be in plants powered by fossil fuels, mainly coal.[97] India plans 4 new "ultra mega" coal thermal plants as part of this growth, each of 4 GW. In 2015, 6 nuclear reactors were being built in India. In the first half of 2016, pre-planned coal generation capacity fell by 40 GW, according to results published by the Global Monitoring of Coal Power Plants (see External links below).[98] In June 2016 the Ministry of Energy declared that no more plants would be required in the next 3 years, and that "any plants whose construction was about to begin should be delayed."[99].
In cement production, biomass is being used, which is neutral in emissions (the carbon dioxide that it emits into the atmosphere when burned is the same as that removed when the plant grew), to drastically reduce the carbon footprint.[100][95].
New Zealand
In October 2007, the Government of Helen Clark (New Zealand Labor Party) introduced a 10-year moratorium on new fossil fuel electricity generation.[101] This ban only had effect on public electricity companies, although it was considered extending it to the private sector. The next Government, of the conservative John Key (New Zealand National Party), after the November 2008 elections, repealed this legislation.
In 2014, almost 80% of the electricity produced in New Zealand was sustainable (renewable + biofuels).[102] On August 6, 2015, the company Genesis Energy Limited announced that it was closing its last two fossil fuel-powered power stations in New Zealand.[103].
South Africa
In 2007 the South African energy sector is the 8th largest emitter of CO in the world.[104] In 2005/2006, 77% of South African energy demand was met directly by coal,[105] and in the short term, when plants currently under construction are connected to the grid, this proportion will increase further.
There are no plans to abandon coal-fired power plants in South Africa; Rather, the country is investing in building quantities of new plants of this type to meet energy demand, as well as modernizing existing ones so that they pollute less.
On April 6, 2010, the World Bank approved a $3.75 billion loan to South Africa to support the construction of the world's 4th largest coal-fired power plant, in Medupi.[106] This loan includes a relatively small amount—$260 million—for wind and solar energy.
With 4.8 GW of power, the Medupi plant would join other gigantic coal-fired power plants that already operate in the country, specifically Kendal (4.1 GW), Majuba, of the same power, and Matimba (4 GW). Kusile, of equal power to Madupi, is under construction. It will be connected to the electricity grid in stages, starting in 2012, while Medupi hopes to start connecting in 2013, reaching full capacity in 2017. These dates are provisional and may change.
In 2008 the South African Government began financing solar hot water installations. As of January 2016, there were 400,000 such installations in homes in this country, with free installation of low-pressure solar water heaters for low-cost homes or low-income households with access to the electricity grid, while other installations were subsidized.[107].
United Kingdom
Ed Miliband, during his tenure as energy minister (secretary) from 3 October 2008 to 11 May 2010, announced that no new coal-fired power plants would be built in Britain from 2009 onwards unless they captured and buried at least 25% of their greenhouse gas emissions immediately and 100% by 2025, although at the time this was more of a statement of intent than anything that was capable to apply.[108].
Chris Huhne, energy minister from May 12, 2010 to February 5, 2012, confirmed that the legislation required for his ministry to implement the emissions standards was being drafted.[109].
The UK is also subject to European directive 2001/80/EC on large combustion plants, which covers emissions other than CO2, and is expected to result in the closure of most older thermal power plants as they are too expensive to upgrade.[110]
Amber Rudd, minister for energy and climate change from 2015 to 2016, announced on 18 November 2015 that by 2025 all coal-fired power plants in the UK would have closed. This would not mean an abandonment of fossil fuels, because new natural gas combined cycle plants will replace them.[111].
The closure in March 2016 of the last coal-fired power station ended this type of generation in Scotland.[112].
USA
In 2017, fossil fuels provided 81% of the energy consumed in the United States, a decrease from 86% in 2000.[113].
In 2007, 154 new coal plants were in the pipeline in 42 states.[114] By 2012, this had fallen to 15, mostly due to new regulations against mercury emissions (some coals contain small amounts of mercury that are released into the air when the coal is burned), and the limitation of emissions to 1,000 pounds of CO per MWh of electricity. produced.[115].
In July 2013, US Energy Minister Ernest Moniz outlined the Obama administration's policy on fossil fuels:
Another US energy minister, Steven Chu, and researchers at the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, have noted that increased electricity generation from non-dispatchable renewables, such as wind and solar photovoltaics, will also increase the need for flexible natural gas combined cycle plants, to supply electricity during the time when wind and solar generation is insufficient.[117][118] These plants have the ability to rapidly ramp up and down the power they generate to meet changing demand.[119].
In the United States, many of the fuel transition initiatives have taken place at the state or local level.
California's SB 1368 created the first government moratorium on new coal-fired power plants in the United States. The law was signed in September 2006 by then-Republican Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. years[121]) of California companies, whether they are in the state or outside. This law sets the maximum greenhouse gas emission at 1,100 pounds of carbon dioxide per MWh, equal to the emissions from a natural gas combined cycle. This creates a de facto moratorium on new coal-fired power plants, since their emissions are much higher;[122]
They could only be built if they employed carbon capture and storage, a technology that in 2018 is still experimental and highly questioned.[123].
On April 15, 2008, Maine Governor John E. Baldacci signed the “Act to Minimize Carbon Dioxide Emissions from New Coal-Fired Electrical and Industrial Facilities” (LD 2126). This bill, sponsored by Republican W. Bruce MacDonald of Boothbay, Maine, directs the Maine Environmental Protection Board to develop greenhouse gas emission standards for coal gasification facilities. It also imposes a moratorium on the construction of such facilities until standards are developed.[124].
In early March 2016, Oregon lawmakers approved a plan to stop paying for out-of-state coal-fired power plants by 2030 and require a minimum of 50% renewable energy by 2040. Groups such as the North American Wind Energy Association and top Democrats praised this plan.
In 2006, a coalition of Texas groups organized a campaign for a state moratorium on new coal plants. The campaign culminated in a mobilization called "Stop the coal frenzy" that included demonstrations and lobbying in the capital, Austin, between February 11 and 12, 2007.[126] More than 40 citizen associations supported this mobilization.[127]
Japan
Japan, the third largest economy in the world, took an important step to increase its consumption of fossil fuels in 2012, when, after the Fukushima nuclear disaster, it temporarily closed its nuclear power plants to review their safety. These plants, which had supplied 30% of Japan's electricity from 1987 to 2011, only produced 2% in 2012 (hydroelectricity supplied 8%). Nuclear generation was temporarily replaced with electricity from fuel oil, coal and natural gas from regasification plants. As a result, fossil fuel electricity generation increased to 90% in 2012.[141] Some reactors have subsequently been reopened.[142].
In January 2017, the Japanese government announced plans to build 45 new coal-fired power plants over the next 10 years, mainly to replace expensive electricity from oil-fired plants.[143]