Subcritical and supercritical combustion type coal power plants are the most common coal plants installed worldwide. Subcritical combustion is the oldest-known technology type whereby coal is burned below 550 degrees Celsius. Its efficiency rate is comparatively low, ranging from 33 percent to 37 percent. Most subcritical combustion type plants have been operational for 10 to 19 years. Ultra-super type plants, at 296.88 gigawatts installed capacity, were the most commonly deployed plants in the last ten years. Supercritical closely followed, with a fuel efficiency of up to 46 percent.
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Most installed combustion technology of operational coal power plants worldwide as of July 2024, by plant age
(in gigawatts installed capacity)
Characteristic
Unknown
Ultra-super
Supercritical
Subcritical
Circulating fluidized bed (CFB)
0-9 years
28.49
296.88
197.69
91.7
8.27
10-19 years
15.62
139.51
237
385.28
4.68
20-29 years
6.75
18.6
36.3
186.02
-
30-39 years
-
-
22.68
149.54
-
40-49 years
-
-
23.92
148.74
-
50 years and older
-
-
41.9
79.83
-
Created with Highcharts 7.2.2Combustion technology capacity in gigawatts623.03623.03782.09782.09247.67247.67172.22172.22172.66172.66121.73121.73UnknownUltra-superSupercriticalSubcriticalCirculating fluidized bed (CFB)0-9 years10-19 years20-29 years30-39 years40-49 years50 years and older
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Global Energy Monitor. (July 30, 2024). Most installed combustion technology of operational coal power plants worldwide as of July 2024, by plant age (in gigawatts installed capacity) [Graph]. In Statista. Retrieved June 28, 2025, from https://www.statista.com/statistics/859116/global-coal-plants-combustion-types-by-age/
Global Energy Monitor. "Most installed combustion technology of operational coal power plants worldwide as of July 2024, by plant age (in gigawatts installed capacity)." Chart. July 30, 2024. Statista. Accessed June 28, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/859116/global-coal-plants-combustion-types-by-age/
Global Energy Monitor. (2024). Most installed combustion technology of operational coal power plants worldwide as of July 2024, by plant age (in gigawatts installed capacity). Statista. Statista Inc.. Accessed: June 28, 2025. https://www.statista.com/statistics/859116/global-coal-plants-combustion-types-by-age/
Global Energy Monitor. "Most Installed Combustion Technology of Operational Coal Power Plants Worldwide as of July 2024, by Plant Age (in Gigawatts Installed Capacity)." Statista, Statista Inc., 30 Jul 2024, https://www.statista.com/statistics/859116/global-coal-plants-combustion-types-by-age/
Global Energy Monitor, Most installed combustion technology of operational coal power plants worldwide as of July 2024, by plant age (in gigawatts installed capacity) Statista, https://www.statista.com/statistics/859116/global-coal-plants-combustion-types-by-age/ (last visited June 28, 2025)
Most installed combustion technology of operational coal power plants worldwide as of July 2024, by plant age (in gigawatts installed capacity) [Graph], Global Energy Monitor, July 30, 2024. [Online]. Available: https://www.statista.com/statistics/859116/global-coal-plants-combustion-types-by-age/
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