Overview

The Boom and Bust series, initiated in 2015, is an annual benchmark series produced by Global Energy Monitor and partner organisations that tracks developments in the global coal power sector. The series examines the status of coal-fired power plants worldwide, including projects that are proposed, permitted, under construction, operating, retired, cancelled or placed on hold.

Purpose

The purpose of the series is to provide a consistent and comprehensive assessment of global coal power development. It enables users to monitor changes in coal power capacity, project pipelines and retirement trends across countries and regions, supporting analysis of the role of coal within the broader energy transition.

Methodology

The series is based on the Global Coal Plant Tracker, an online database developed by Global Energy Monitor. The tracker identifies and maps coal-fired generating units and new coal power projects globally, using referenced source material to document individual plants and project developments. The database is updated regularly and serves as the primary data source for the benchmark.

Relevance for finance professionals

Finance professionals can use the series to assess transition risks associated with coal assets, monitor changes in fossil fuel infrastructure development, identify markets with ongoing coal expansion or retirement activity, and evaluate policy and market trends affecting the energy sector. The benchmark also provides a consistent reference for analysing how coal-related investments may be affected by evolving energy transition pathways.