This report by the Coal Transmission Commission, released for COP30 in Brazil, identifies around 150 gigawatts of operating coal capacity worldwide, roughly one third of the assessed fleet, as near-term opportunities for exploring early retirement and replacement with clean energy.
The report builds a plant‑level retirement model using discounted cash flows for Pakistan’s 1,320 MW Sahiwal coal plant and outlines two actionable pathways: an upfront buyout or a negotiated ROE reduction, with variations like staggered pay-outs and a coal‑to‑clean reinvestment into a 280 MW wind‑solar‑BESS hybrid delivering 1 TWh/year at ~6.2 ¢/kWh.
A new study published in Southern Energy Construction by the China Power Engineering Consulting Group analyses which reactor types are best suited to replace decommissioned coal-fired units on existing sites. Under China’s dual-carbon goals, in-situ nuclear replacement is not only technically feasible but necessary to accelerate decarbonisation.
Nuclear energy is emerging as a key solution for countries seeking clean, reliable power. The IAEA’s Coal to Nuclear report (developed with South Africa’s G20 Presidency) shows how reusing coal sites for nuclear can advance energy security, safeguard jobs, and accelerate decarbonisation worldwide.
This new technical paper from the China Power Engineering Consulting Group (CPECC) concludes that C2N offers significant promise for China’s long-term carbon neutrality goals, enabling direct capacity substitution, reusing valuable infrastructure, and cutting construction costs.
Coal-fired power still dominates the energy supply globally including China. C2N presents a novel strategy for energy transition. This strategy has the potential to lower down the construction costs of nuclear power plants, promote the development of advanced nuclear systems, and ensure energy equity for phasing out the whole coal power industry. As such, C2N…
This commercial study examines how Chile can accelerate its coal phaseout by deploying innovative transition pathways that reduce emissions while managing cost, reliability, and social impacts. It is particularly relevant for repowering discussions, as it focuses on practical alternatives to early coal retirement that make use of existing assets and system capabilities.
We’ve burned coal for more than a century. It's powered our cities, industries and lives. Now, we have a chance to rewrite the story. Instead of demolishing the infrastructure, Repowering lets us reuse what works and replace what pollutes. The result? A faster, fairer energy transition that protects jobs, saves money and cuts emissions.
Over 10,000 coal plants still operate around the world, and most are less than 15 years old. Instead of shutting them down, Repowering asks: what if we turned them into clean power stations? By reusing turbines, cooling systems, and grid connections, we can avoid waste, protect communities, and deliver clean energy faster - at scale.
The study proposes two TES schemes: D1 stores medium‑temperature heat to later warm feedwater, and D2 stores high‑temperature heat to later generate steam; both use live and reheat steam as heat sources and incorporate steam ejectors to utilize residual pressure.
Repowering retired U.S. coal sites can reintroduce firm, low‑carbon capacity faster by reusing interconnections and infrastructure, avoiding greenfield delays and permitting risk. The core message: infrastructure reuse is a time‑critical lever to grow 24/7 low‑carbon power and unlock hidden grid value and investment upside.
This Energy Economics study examines whether coordinating coal‑fired power plant retrofits with renewables via a virtual power plant (VPP) increases plant owners’ willingness to transition and improves system outcomes.
