A growing multidisciplinary network of individuals and organisations

Coal-Fired Power Plants (CFPPs) produces 1/3 of the world’s CO₂ emissions. Put simply, coal burning for electricity generation is the single largest contributor to climate change. Many coal-fired power plants are less than ten years old — built to run for decades more. If all recently built coal plants operate for their full technical lifespans, they will emit around 200 billion tonnes of CO₂ — enough to consume the entire remaining global carbon budget.

To move forward as a global civilization, we must end coal and embrace clean energy — renewable or zero-emission sources that don’t pollute the atmosphere or heat the climate. Repower asks: what if the thousands of coal units built around the world could become part of the solution? How can we reuse these massive investments to ease the energy transition — and do so in a way that’s just and fair?

Repowering means reusing what still works at coal-fired power plants — without burning coal. It’s about preserving local jobs, maintaining economic activity, and making the most of existing infrastructure. Sites, permits, and equipment can often be repurposed, avoiding the environmental damage of building on untouched land. All around, it’s a smarter, cleaner path forward.