Removing coal boilers. Reusing infrastructure. Powering a cleaner future

We are transforming coal plants to use clean technologies by removing coal boilers and utilizing the existing infrastructure.

Repowering is to reuse what is valuable in a coal-fired power plant: steam turbines, grid connections, cooling systems, buildings, permits, and employees.
the challenge
2143 GW of coal operating today
The climate crisis is urgent, but closing coal plants risks economic and social disruption by leaving behind stranded assets and displacing communities.
the opportunity
More than half is brand new
Existing infrastructure and skilled workers can be reused; replacing only the coal-burning parts with clean heat sources cuts costs and speeds up deployment.
the solution
Remove boiler and add clean like-for-like generation
A range of clean energy technologies allows each site to choose the best option based on local conditions.

Benefits of Repowering

20% of global ghc emissions

Coal power is the largest point source of global emissions, producing 10 GtCO₂ per year.

Avoids stranded assets

Preserve trillions in existing infrastructure investments by converting rather than abandoning them.

just transition for workers

Support a just transition by retaining skilled jobs and revitalising affected coal regions.

faster deployment

Take advantage of existing grid infrastructure for quicker implementation compared to greenfield projects.

like-for-like power output

Enable direct replacement of coal capacity with reliable, dispatchable clean energy options.

lower footprint

Avoid building new generation elsewhere — reduce land use, air pollution, and local ecosystem impacts.

How Repowering Works

01

Eliminate the coal 

Evaluate the current coal plant's condition and efficiency. Assess what infrastructure can be retained. Remove the ash handling and coal burning component.
02

Retrofit the CFPP

Modify or upgrade the plant with a chosen, clean, high-temperature heat source. Examples include small modular reactors (SMRs), advanced geothermal or concentrated solar power (CSP), amongst many other technological options which can also be combined. 
03

Generate clean energy 

Integrate the new system with the existing steam cycle, grid connection, and other infrastructure. Make power, retain jobs, and clean-up the local environment.  
THE RESULT
Clean, Reliable Power generation with existing infrastructure

Types of Repowering

Full Repowering

For brand new plants the coal boiler can be replaced with a low-carbon heat source, likely a Small Modular Reactor or Geothermal, then the full steam cycle, condenser cooling system, grid connection, and all auxiliary buildings can be reused with minimal retrofitting requirements.

Partial Repowering

For modern coal plants (effective age of under 15 years) the condenser cooling system, grid connection and all auxiliary buildings can be reused, and even with a new steam cycle, the costs are likely to be significantly lower than any comparable greenfield site.

Repurposing

The sites of old, already decommissioned or fully depreciated units can be repurposed for low-carbon energy generation or storage, in many cases these sites still have an active grid connection.
Learn more about Repowering