Role of coal in global energy transition

Transformation of the world economy towards the low-carbon development (energy transition) raises the question of the role of coal as an energy carrier and a source of industrial raw materials. On the one hand, it is a widespread energy carrier with reserves that can meet consumption for hundreds of years and well-developed technologies and logistics for its use. On the other hand, it is the most carbon-intensive energy carrier, contributing the largest amount of greenhouse gas emissions, i.e. the choice is made between the economic viability of its use and the environmental threat associated with coal consumption. The authors analyze the scenarios for reducing global greenhouse gas emissions by the International Energy Agency and BloombergNEF, which basically focus on a radical reduction in the use of coal for power generation. However, the International Energy Agency's (IEA) vision of reducing CO2 emissions by eliminating the use of coal in power generation and replacing it with renewable energy sources raises reasonable doubts due to a number of problems that are currently unlikely to be resolved. The development of Carbon Capture Utilisation and Storage technologies will contribute to solving the challenges of coal use in power generation, keeping the coal mining industry developing and achieving the energy transition goals.