Exploiting natural resources creates jobs and adds to economic wealth. Coal is the EU’s most abundant energy resource. In these times of economic recovery, we can look forward to a transition fuelled by coal, not dirty old coal of the past, but with modern clean coal technologies fit for the 21^st century and in use today in Europe.

Clean energy: since 1990, coal-related CO₂ emissions have decreased by almost 60% across the EU. Emissions of sulphur dioxide from electricity and heat production and from iron and steel making have fallen by 96%, while NO_x emissions have fallen by 77% and dust by 92%.

 

Abundant, affordable and available: in the EU, 96% of our non-renewable energy reserves lie in coal beds.

Competitive energy: without inter-fuel competition from coal, we would be faced with much higher prices for industrial and residential electricity.

Base-load power generation: to cover periods of zero output from renewables – such as windless, midwinter nights or Dunkelflaute – coal and other conventional fuels will be needed for many years to come.

Flexible energy: during the energy transition, coal- and gas-fired power plants are equally capable of balancing the intermittent output from wind turbines and solar PV panels to fill any gaps in supply.

Quality jobs and wealth creation: coal is a large and mature industry that employs nearly 300 000 people in well-paid jobs across the greater Europe including the Balkans, Türkiye and Ukraine, and many more jobs at the suppliers of equipment and materials.

Secure energy: in 2022, the EU spent €604 billion on energy imports – 4.3% of GDP – a burden that indigenous coal reduces.

Sustainable energy: by embracing new technologies such as CCS, coal and other energy sources have a bright future – all will be needed to meet the forecast growth in demand.

 

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The global energy supply of the 21^st century is more than ever shaped by coal. Almost all emerging economies trust in coal as a safe, reliable, affordable and sustainable basis for their development.

According to estimates of the International Energy Agency (IEA), coal will have the same importance as oil for the world-wide supply of energy until 2030.

On a global scale, coal is No.1 for power generation with substantial potential for further technological development and cost-effective climate protection.

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is important for international climate protection policies; it is expected to deliver 15% of GHG reductions to reach net-zero by 2070. The EU Carbon Management Strategy foresees the capture of 280 MtCO₂/year by 2040 and around 450 MtCO₂/year by 2050.

An efficient and affordable CO₂ network at the European level is needed and the EU should actively promote the creation of CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure.

EURACOAL highlights the following four priorities:

• a rational EU energy policy that values a diversified energy mix, including a role for coal during the energy transition;
• rewards for flexible coal-fired power plants that can stabilise a power system based increasingly on renewable energy sources;
• preserving the coal value chain during a just transition;
• the successful demonstration of CCS.