Southeast Asia is planning 400 new coal power plants — what does that mean?

Southeast Asia is planning 400 new coal power plants — what does that mean?:

Southeast Asia is one of the fastest developing regions in the world.

Electricity demand in 2035 is projected to increase by 83% from 2011 levels, with many countries in the region still pursuing new coal-fired power plants, while lagging far behind China and India in scaling up renewable energy.

Among developed countries, only Japan and South Korea continue stand out as the only ones eyeing a coal power expansion, in direct conflict with climate commitments and concerns about public health.

With 120 coal-fired power plants under construction and more than twice as many planned, Southeast Asia is being left as the main region still planning new coal-fired project starts.

While having a massive amount of coal under construction, China has cancelled most new coal power projects and aims to control 2020 coal-fired capacity below the amount that is currently operating and under construction. India has indicated that no more coal-fired capacity will be needed for many years to come.

Indeed, the Chinese energy regulator ordered today the suspension of 9 large coal-fired power plants projects in a single province (Guangdong). The projects have a total capacity of 12,000MW and seven were already under construction.

A new study by Harvard and Greenpeace researchers has found that cancelling new coal power development in Southeast Asia, Japan and Korea could save 50,000 lives per year by 2030.

We find that air pollutant emissions from coal in those countries would triple by 2030, despite new plants having somewhat better emission control performance than old plants.

Emissions in the region could exceed total coal emissions in the US and Europe

How significant are the health impacts?

H/t reader kevin a.

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