A recent report from Robert Bryce for the Manhatten Institute for Policy Research argues that far from moving beyond coal, the world is still dependent on the fuel for power generation – and will continue to be so fro some time yet.

In his paper “Not beyond coal: how the global thirst for low-cost electricity continues driving coal demand”, Bryce highlights nine countries that will collectively add 550 GW of new coal-fired power over the next 25 years.

“No viable substitutes exist that can match the low-cost and massive scale of electricity production now provided by coal-fired generators,” the Manhatten Institute said in a press statement. “Coal, in short, continues to play a pivotal role providing electricity to poor and wealthy countries alike.”

As a result, Bryce argues that US policymakers should reject the US Environmental Protection Agency’s Clean Power Plan, promoting the deployment of advanced generation technologies in new power plants instead.

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