Coal-fired electricity generation growth vs Carbon intensity of electricity generation

In 2024, coal-fired electricity generation growth worldwide was 1.3%; carbon intensity of electricity generation was 445 gCO2/kWh.

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Over time

Global, annual figures, spaced by time from 2024 to 2026 . Different units, drawn on separate scales and clipped to the years both series publish; earlier history stays on each indicator’s own page. Read the values, not the heights.

Coal-fired electricity generation growth

Unit: % · 2 observations

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Forecast: dashed line, hollow markers, shaded band

Coal-fired electricity generation growthCoal-fired electricity generation growth. 2 observations from 2024 to 2026, ranging from -1.3% to 1.3%, of which 1 are forecasts. Latest value -1.3% (2026). % -1.5 -1 -0.5 0 0.5 1 1.5 2024 2025 2026 FORECAST 1.3% -1.3%
Coal-fired electricity generation growthCoal-fired electricity generation growth. 2 observations from 2024 to 2026, ranging from -1.3% to 1.3%, of which 1 are forecasts. Latest value -1.3% (2026). % -2 -1 0 1 2 2024 2025 2026 FORECAST 1.3% -1.3%
Coal-fired electricity generation growthCoal-fired electricity generation growth. 2 observations from 2024 to 2026, ranging from -1.3% to 1.3%, of which 1 are forecasts. Latest value -1.3% (2026). % -2 -1 0 1 2 2024 2025 2026 FORECAST 1.3% -1.3%
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Coal-fired electricity generation growth
Period Type Value
2024 Actual 1.3%
2026 Forecast -1.3%
Source: IEA · CC BY 4.0 · Full series

Carbon intensity of electricity generation

Unit: gCO2/kWh · 2 observations

Line chart

Forecast: dashed line, hollow markers, shaded band

Carbon intensity of electricity generationCarbon intensity of electricity generation. 2 observations from 2024 to 2026, ranging from 415 gCO2/kWh to 445 gCO2/kWh, of which 1 are forecasts. Latest value 415 gCO2/kWh (2026). gCO2/kWh 0 100 200 300 400 500 2024 2025 2026 FORECAST 445 415
Carbon intensity of electricity generationCarbon intensity of electricity generation. 2 observations from 2024 to 2026, ranging from 415 gCO2/kWh to 445 gCO2/kWh, of which 1 are forecasts. Latest value 415 gCO2/kWh (2026). gCO2/kWh 0 100 200 300 400 500 2024 2025 2026 FORECAST 445 415
Carbon intensity of electricity generationCarbon intensity of electricity generation. 2 observations from 2024 to 2026, ranging from 415 gCO2/kWh to 445 gCO2/kWh, of which 1 are forecasts. Latest value 415 gCO2/kWh (2026). gCO2/kWh 0 100 200 300 400 500 2024 2025 2026 FORECAST 445 415
View the underlying data
Carbon intensity of electricity generation
Period Type Value
2024 Actual 445 gCO2/kWh
2026 Forecast 415 gCO2/kWh
Source: IEA · CC BY 4.0 · Full series

Shared periods

Side by side

2 periods are published for both series as annual figures on the same basis. Comparing anything else would mean comparing different periods.

Period Coal-fired electricity generation growth Carbon intensity of electricity generation
2024 1.3% IEA 445 gCO2/kWh IEA
2026 both forecasts -1.3% IEA 415 gCO2/kWh IEA

Provenance

Where these numbers come from

Coal-fired electricity generation growth

Year-on-year percentage change in electricity generated from coal-fired plants.

2 observations charted in Global (of 4 annual records) · source organisations: IEA

Carbon intensity of electricity generation

Emissions intensity of electricity generation, measured as greenhouse gas emissions in carbon dioxide equivalent (gCO2e) per kilowatt-hour of electricity generated.

2 observations charted in Global · source organisations: IEA

Data published under CC BY 4.0. Series A as JSON · Series B as JSON

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