Rising natural gas prices are causing a shift in global energy consumption patterns, leading to greater reliance on coal for electricity generation. This trend is particularly evident in countries that have power plants capable of operating on both energy sources.
According to the International Energy Agency, in countries with installed capacity for both gas and coal, operators are preferring to use coal-fired plants due to the currently lower cost of the solid fuel.
This situation represents a setback for energy transition efforts and carbon emissions reduction, given that coal is the most polluting fossil fuel source. Coal has a significantly greater environmental impact than natural gas in terms of CO2 emissions and other pollutants.
The rising cost of gas, driven by geopolitical factors and growing demand, is thus altering the dynamics of the global energy market, temporarily favoring cheaper but environmentally more harmful energy sources.
