Coal Demand to Double in Southeast Asia by 2040

[Frodo]

Renewable Energy Boom Can’t Dim Coal Outlook in Southeast Asia

There’s just no stopping coal in Southeast Asia. Surging investments in wind and solar energy won’t be enough to shake the fuel’s dominance in the region for decades to come, according to the International Energy Agency.

Coal demand is expected to double to almost 400 million tons a year by 2040, the agency said in its Southeast Asia Energy Outlook published Wednesday. That’s 2.5% higher than its forecast from two years ago, even as renewable power capacity is seen more than tripling through 2040.

“Coal is rather resistant because it is affordable,” said Keisuke Sadamori, IEA’s director for energy markets and security. “It’s really hard for Southeast Asian countries to move away from affordable coal immediately.”

[Cinemark]

Its expected. As these countries develop and become wealthier, they'll need cheap energy. Its up to the west to continue their phase out of coal to offset the increases.

That being said, the IEA has routinely underestimated renewable energy growth. And as your article notes at the end:

The outlook can change if governments adopt more renewable-friendly policies, Sadamori said. For a start, approved solar and wind projects are outpacing coal this year for the first time ever, which suggests an inflection point for the region.

“We are seeing some positive signs,” Sadamori said. “We hope it’s not a blip.”

I highly doubt it is a blip. I think there are many reasons to be positive about the transition to renewable.

[dead0man]

If you want them to use less coal, present them with a better alternative.  They are going to do what's in their best interest, we should be doing what we can to make alternatives more efficient at turning dollars into electricity.

[Kingpoleon]

If you want them to use less coal, present them with a better alternative.  They are going to do what's in their best interest, we should be doing what we can to make alternatives more efficient at turning dollars into electricity.

We already are. Or at least, the solar industry is.

[dead0man]

If you want them to use less coal, present them with a better alternative.  They are going to do what's in their best interest, we should be doing what we can to make alternatives more efficient at turning dollars into electricity.

We already are. Or at least, the solar industry is.

then we don't have to worry about the coal demand doubling in SE Asia by 2040

[🦀🎂🦀🎂]

If you want them to use less coal, present them with a better alternative.  They are going to do what's in their best interest, we should be doing what we can to make alternatives more efficient at turning dollars into electricity.

We already are. Or at least, the solar industry is.

then we don't have to worry about the coal demand doubling in SE Asia by 2040

there is a very real chance of solar + storage taking off to such a degree that many big baseload plants become stranded assets.

Also, it's worth noting that a lot of these countries end up being more bullish at their big projects than what we see in reality (both in renewable and conventional plants): only Indonesia has actually managed to open a plant this year. A lot of planned plants are simply never opened:

https://globalenergymonitor.org/384-2/

[Meclazine for Israel]

We have 350 yrs of coal reserves in Eastern Australia, so rest assured, they will be fine.

But you have to take economic mineral usage statistics with a grain of salt.

They are invariably wrong, and only serve as long term forecasting for an industry that changes rapidly.

For example, 20 years ago, no one predicted the gold, copper, oil, nickel or coal futures correctly.

They spike and crash regularly.