Energy & Science
In Global Electricity Slump, Coal Is the Big Loser
When generators cut power, coal plants are typically the first ones to go.
American Electric Power Co.’s coal-fired plant in Winfield, West Virginia.
Photographer: Luke Sharrett/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
As silent factories and deserted offices hobble demand for electricity worldwide, the biggest loser is coal.
In the U.S., coal’s share of power generation has dropped more than 5 percentage points since February on the nation’s biggest grid while output from natural gas plants and wind farms held steady. In Europe, it’s down 2 points. Even in China and India, where coal still dominates, it’s losing market share during the pandemic.