Coal Group: Investment in Coal Power Hits 14-Year High

A pro-coal power group, FutureCoal, says countries around the world are still investing in coal-fired power plants — particularly China — with coal investment reaching $180 billion. This is the highest amount invested in coal power since 2012 and a 4% jump over last year, according to a press release from FutureCoal.

This investment shows countries are spending money on coal supply, infrastructure and retrofits/modernization to support their economic development and provide reliable electricity supply, according to FutureCoal.

China accounts for 70% of global coal investment, according to the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) World Energy Investment 2026 report. India is also expanding coal production, transport infrastructure and coal gasification capabilities to lower that country’s dependence on natural gas as well as urea, ammonia and methanol.

The countries of Southeast Asia are investing $110 billion in coal since 2015, with coal’s share in the energy mix increasing from 20% to 30%.

“These findings confirm that energy security will not be achieved through ideology. It is achieved through diversity, reliability, and affordability, and those principles are once again driving investment decisions,” said Michelle Manook, Chief Executive of FutureCoal.

FutureCoal research indicates that 90% of new coal-fired power capacity expected online in 2026 will use ultra-supercritical and supercritical technologies.

China is investing heavily in coal value-chain modernization, carbon capture, and coal-to-chemicals projects; while India is targeting the gasification of 100 million tonnes of coal by 2030, supported by $4 billion in government incentives. In the United States, the Department of Energy committed $625 million in 2025 towards coal plant recommissioning, retrofits and advanced technologies designed to strengthen grid reliability, affordability and energy security.