China’s reduction in coal power is having significant effect
DOI: 10.1063/PT.5.028747
New York Times : Coal still supplies two-thirds of China’s power generation, but with the nation’s economy growing at the slowest rate in 25 years and a mandated shift to nuclear and renewable sources, coal imports and utilization have dropped significantly over the last year. In 2014 the use of fossil fuels to generate power was at a record low of 53.7%, down from 57.3% in 2013. That reduction led to a drop of 18 million tons or 1.3% in the amount of coal used and to a 11% reduction in coal imports by the world’s largest coal consumer. The trend is expected to continue through 2015. As a result, the cost of coal from Australia, one of China’s primary sources, fell 30% last year to under $60 per ton this month, the lowest since May 2007.
