Coal generation in the EU ‘plummeted by 19% in first half of 2019’

https://youtu.be/nvYA4xHz0Vc Image: Shutterstock Coal generation in the EU plummeted by 19% in the first half of 2019. That’s according to new figures published by climate think-tank Sandbag, which show use of the polluting fossil fuel to generate electricity has fallen in almost every coal-burning country across the region. Total EU coal power generation fell by 50TWh, which was counteracted by a 30TWh increase in wind and solar generation and a rise in natural gas generation of 30TWh. Coal generation dropped by 65% in the UK from 2018 to 2019 and the country experienced a record-breaking 18-day run without any coal power on its grid. Similarly, its usage in Ireland fell by 79%, meaning it is now providing less than 2% of the nation’s electricity mix – it also now provides only around 6% of power in Spain and Italy. Germany saw coal generation fall by 22% as both hard coal and lignite power dropped substantially, with power production falling at 32 out of Germany’s 35 lignite units. Despite this, Germany was still responsible for 35% of the EU’s combined coal generation over the period. Coal power retained a stronger hold on power systems in Eastern Europe, largely due to […]

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