Combustion types of operational global coal power stations by plant age 2022
Subcritical and supercritical combustion type coal power plants are the most common coal plants installed worldwide. Subcritical combustion is the oldest known technology type whereby coal is burned below 550 degrees Celsius. Its efficiency rate is comparatively low, ranging from 33 percent to 37 percent. Most subcritical combustion type plants have been operational for 10 to19 years. Ultra-super type plants, at 265.8 gigawatts installed capacity, were the most commonly deployed plants in the last ten years. Supercritical closely followed, with a fuel efficiency of up to 40 percent.
