Publisher: Coal Transition Commission (Coal Transition Accelerator)
Date: November 2024
Intro-summary
The CTC’s first report sets out a practical plan to cut emissions from existing coal power and enable just, country‑driven coal‑to‑clean transitions. It highlights four levers for legacy coal fleets—early retirement, repurposing for flexibility, CCUS retrofits, and co‑firing low‑emissions fuels—with early retirement delivering about two‑thirds of required reductions on a 1.5°C pathway and repurposing for flexibility providing most of the remainder, particularly in EMDEs.
It calls for clear national commitments (no new unabated coal; 1.5°C‑aligned phase‑out timelines), robust power‑sector planning, just transition plans, regulatory reforms (pollution standards, subsidy removal), and market/procurement measures that let clean resources compete. Financing needs in EMDEs are large; the report outlines blended and innovative options (including transition credits) and near‑term actions to expand a pipeline of early retirement and repurposing projects through public–private platforms.
Mission relevance
The report’s emphasis on early retirement and repurposing for flexibility, paired with enabling policy and finance, aligns with repowering objectives: reduce coal emissions fast, keep systems reliable and affordable, and protect workers and communities.