Global coal production distribution 2020, by country

Globally, China is the greatest producer of coal by a considerable margin. In 2020, China accounted for over 50 percent of coal production worldwide. In comparison, the second largest coal producer, Indonesia, had a global share of just nine percent. Coal has many uses, such as in steel production, heating, and electricity generation.

Coal's role in global electricity generation

Despite a surge in renewable energy use in recent years, coal is presently the main source of electricity generation worldwide. In 2018, coal accounted for approximately 40 percent of global electricity generation. Much like global coal production, China generates the most power from coal-fired plants by some distance. The global capacity of coal-fired power plants stands at more than two terawatts.

The future of coal

Due to the immense environmental impacts of coal, many countries have been shifting away from this polluting energy source in a bid to combat the climate crisis. A prime example of this is in the United Kingdom. What was once a massive industry, the coal sector in the UK has plummeted in recent decades. Coal use in Great Britain has now virtually vanished from the nation’s energy mix, having been replaced by renewable sources such as wind energy.