Coal-fired power plants, the world's most polluting energy source, are losing the price war against wind and solar power, study finds

Coal-fired power plants, currently the most polluting source of energy on the planet, are losing ground to wind and solar energy

A recent study showed that the costs of energy industries thermoelectric, using coal, are already higher than the costs to generate solar energy and wind energy. O growing use of renewable energy is directly linked to the drop in the price of technology in the sector. Coal is pointed out as the great villain of the environment. 

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A study of the Energy Innovation pointed out that, due to the total costs of power plants thermoelectric coal, such as equipment maintenance and other extra costs, it is already cheaper to build a solar or wind power plant than to maintain a thermoelectric plant. 

Less efficient and more expensive

The new study done in 2021 goes against a study by Energy Innovation itself, in 2019. At the time, they were predicting that 3/4 of all coal-fired electric power industries would already be too expensive to sustain themselves in 2025. However, the number was reached years ahead of schedule. This proves that coal has been losing space quickly for renewable energies, more than was initially predicted by the Energy study. 

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The study showed that 72% of coal-fired power plants in the US are more expensive to keep operating at full speed than building new solar or wind plants. The reports include data on the health of companies, in addition to the impacts of climate emissions in the USA. 

The report concluded something that is already known by all: coal is expensive, polluting and will certainly start to be less used in the coming decades. The study also highlighted that, in future, it will be possible to completely do away with coal plants to make way for fossil fuel plants. 

Coal will lose space in the future

This news that coal is becoming more expensive compared to other forms of generating energy was noticed by the largest coal workers union in the United States, in 2019, the United Mine Workers of America. The union highlighted the need to make an energy transition in search of renewable energies that are friendlier to the environment.  

Countries start to cut thermoelectric energy

Last year, Japan, Germany and Spain announced the closure of coal-fired power plants. Very polluting and much less efficient than other forms of generating energy, the sector's industry should be reduced, or even completely finished in the near future. 

With solar energy and electricity forecast to become even cheaper in the coming decades, the use of coal is no longer expensive. In addition, everyone is working to reduce carbon emissions, something that will certainly further weaken the market.