This article is part of ourseries on coal phase out and the G7 in 2021.You can find a full list of articles, along with the backstory of our analysis of G7 coal trends since 2015, here.
Since 2015, E3G has tracked data trends and policy developments across the G7, building a picture of G7 progress on coal phase-out. We set out here the key data trends from our 2021 G7 Coal Scorecard report, with interactive data visualisations that explore coal capacity and electricity generation landscapes.
Our analysis combines publicly available data of operating and proposed coal power plants. This includes Global Energy Monitor’s Global Coal Plant Tracker (aggregated from plant- to country-level); electricity generation data provided by Ember; and E3G analysis of political commitments and policy developments.
We assess progress towards coal phase out by calculating the rate of retirements of the operating power plant fleet, starting from a 2010 baseline. We similarly incorporate forecasts of planned coal retirements to 2030, by when OECD countries should be coal-free to give the world a reasonable chance of keeping warming below 1.5°C.
Coal exit continues across the G7, Japan lags behind
Since our first assessment of G7 progress in 2015, there has been an acceleration of progress across two trends. Firstly, new coal construction slowed and stopped everywhere except Japan. Secondly, existing coal power plants have closed, through retirement decisions and government phase out commitments.
As Figure A shows, the pipeline of new projects shrank year on year, while the number of power plants heading to retirement grew. The acceleration of coal plant retirements is now the dominant trend.
