The economic recovery from the pandemic is driving up coal power generation this year, with global coal demand projected to hit a new high next year, undermining net-zero efforts, according to the International Energy Agency (IEA) in its annual Coal 2021 study released on Friday.

According to the agency, the 2020 drop in coal consumption will be smaller than expected since China’s recovery began sooner than expected and has been stronger than expected. Global coal demand is expected to reach 8025 Mt in 2022, the highest level ever, and remain there through 2024, according to current trends.

The IEA expects global coal power generation to climb by 9% this year to 10350 terawatt-hours (TWh), a new all-time high, as a result of this year’s global recovery.

According to the International Energy Agency, worldwide coal demand might reach new record highs over the next two years as emerging nations, driven by China and India, drive consumption increases that will outstrip decreases in industrialised economies.

According to the organisation, global coal usage is not on a Net Zero trajectory and is unlikely to be before 2024.

“Although global investment in renewable energy will be strong in the medium and long term, coal supplies are expected to expand until 2024,” the IEA said in its report.

The Chief Director of the IEA, Faith Birol, commented: “Coal is the single largest source of global carbon emissions, and this year’s historically high level of coal power generation is a worrying sign of how far off track the world is in its efforts to put emissions into decline towards net zero.”

According to Keisuke Sadamori, Director of Energy Markets and Security at the IEA, “The pledges to reach net zero emissions made by many countries, including China and India, should have very strong implications for coal – but these are not yet visible in our near-term forecast, reflecting the major gap between ambitions and action.”