European coal-fired power generation fell 3% month on month in December as utilities relied on nuclear and gas to meet rising demand, preliminary data from DBX showed on Tuesday.
The region produced 12.9 TWh from coal, excluding lignite, compared with 13.3 TWh in November, according to initial estimates by the dry bulk data provider.
This was despite overall generation rising by 7.3 TWh to 222.5 TWh, DBX said, citing “lower temperatures and resilient industrial activity”.
The increase was largely met by “robust” nuclear and gas-fired power generation, which rose by 6.5 TWh and 2 TWh to an estimated 56.3 TWh and 30.1 TWh, respectively.
DBX anticipated that coal-fired power generation would remain low in January.
The figures come as many European nations are looking to phase out coal in power generation and boost renewable energy capacity to help slash greenhouse gas emissions.
