New coal plants hit ‘10-year’ global high in 2025 – but power output still fell
Why this matters: environmental and climate reporting with long-term consequences.
The number of new coal-fired power plants built around the world hit a “10-year high” in 2025, even as the global coal fleet generated less electricity, amid a “widening disconnect” in the sector. That is according to the latest annual report from Global Energy Monitor (GEM), which finds that the world added nearly 100 gigawatts (GW) of new coal-power capacity in 2025, the equivalent of roughly 100 large coal plants. It adds that 95% of the new coal plants were built in India and China. Yet GEM says that the amount of electricity generated with coal fell by 0.6% in 2025 – with sharp drops in both China and India – as the fuel was displaced by record wind and solar output, among other factors. The report notes that there have been previous dips in output from coal power and there could still be ups – as well as downs – in the near term. For example, nearly 70% of the coal-fired units scheduled to retire globally in 2025 did not do so, due to postponements triggered by the 2022 energy crisis and policy shifts in the US. However, GEM says that the underlying dynamics for coal power have now fundamentally shifted, as the cost of renewables has fallen and low usage hits coal profitability. China and India dominate growth In 2025, coal-capacity growth hit a 10-year high, with 97 gigawatts (GW) of new power plants being added, according to GEM. (Capacity refers to the potential maximum power output, as measured in GW, whereas generation refers to power actually generated by the assets over a period of time, measured in gigawatt hours, GWh.) This is the highest level since 2015 when 107GW began operating, as shown in the chart below. This makes 2025 the second-highest level of additions on record. Coal-fired power capacity that began operation each year from 2000 to 2025, GW. Source: Global Energy Monitor. The majority of this growth came from China and India, which added 78GW and 10GW, respectively, against 9GW from all other countries. Yet GEM points out that, even as coa