According to Global Energy Monitor (GEM), there are currently 45 countries planning to retire or cease operations of coal-fired power plants (PLTU) during the 2025-2040 period.
GEM compiled this data from government policy documents in each country, government websites related to power plant licensing, reports from state-owned and private electricity companies, mass media coverage, and reports from civil society organizations focused on the energy sector.
They also found that, as of July 2025, the United States (US) is in the leading position.
The US has plans to cease operations of coal-fired power plants with a total capacity of 106,785 megawatts (MW) during the 2025-2040 period, the largest compared to other countries.
"Despite the Trump administration’s support for coal, more coal was retired during Trump’s first term than under Obama or Biden — a trend that is set to continue," GEM stated in its Boom and Bust Coal 2025 report.
Below is a list of the top 10 countries with the largest coal-fired power plant retirement plans during the 2025-2040 period:
- United States: 106,785 MW
- South Africa: 27,852 MW
- Germany: 27,069 MW
- South Korea: 20,080 MW
- Australia: 17,899 MW
- Poland: 13,588 MW
- Taiwan: 12,283 MW
- China: 8,934 MW
- Malaysia: 7,410 MW
- Russia: 6,484 MW
However, beyond these retirement plans, GEM also found numerous additions of coal-fired power plants globally.
"Many countries completed or accelerated coal exits, while others ramped up new construction. This uneven trajectory has left the global coal transition off pace for aligning with the Paris Agreement," GEM stated.
According to GEM, the Paris Agreement's target to limit global warming to a maximum of 1.5 °C can only be achieved if all coal-fired power plants in wealthy countries are phased out by 2030 and retired worldwide by 2040.