CLOSED COAL POWER PLANTS IN CURRENT YEARS

CLOSED COAL POWER PLANTS IN CURRENT YEARS

While countries - including Tanzania - are increasingly directing interest to mine coal deposit, the trend for the closure of coal power plants is also taking pace particularly due to their impact on the environment and public health. In the United States - for example - a large number of coal-fired power stations have been decommissioned. From 2010 to May 2019, 290 plants were closed, which was 40% of the US's coal generating capacity. 

Equally, the future for the closing of coal power plants looks promising (well questions are still there too). For example, nearly half of the US coal-fired power generation capacity seen in 2011 is expected to be phased out by 2026. By 2030, about 40% of the current coal-fired capacity is set to close.

A similar trend is seen across the globe. For example, since 2010, coal power plant retirements have averaged around 25 GW each year, largely reflecting the closure of aging plants in Europe and the United States. It is also important to recognize that the away from coal is driven by a combination of factors, including the rise of cheaper and cleaner energy sources like natural gas and renewables, as well as policy decisions aimed at reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change. The transition is part of a broader movement towards sustainable energy practices globally.

Here are 10 coal power plants that were closed in recently:

1.      Bull Run - Tennessee, USA

2.      Dan E. Karn - Michigan, USA

3.      W.H. Sammis - Ohio, USA

4.      Matsushima Power Station Unit 1 - Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan

5.      Matsushima Power Station Unit 2 - Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan (deactivated for GENESIS Matsushima project)

6.      Bridgeport - Connecticut, USA (closed in June 2021 but included in the list as it was part of a multi-year decommissioning process)

7.      Edgewater - Wisconsin, USA (closed in 2022 but included in the list as it was part of a multi-year decommissioning process)

8.      E.D. Edwards - Illinois, USA (closed in 2022 but included in the list as it was part of a multi-year decommissioning process)

9.      Meramec - Missouri, USA (closed in 2022 but included in the list as it was part of a multi-year decommissioning process)

10.  Fayette - Texas, USA (announced not confirmed for 2022 but included in the list as it was part of a multi-year decommissioning process)

THE FUTURE LOOKS BRIGHT, THOUGH THE PACE IS WORRYING.