Twilight years for coal in Europe

Expanding renewable energy capacity and fierce competition from gas have eroded European demand for thermal coal over the past decade, amid widespread closures of coal-fired plants to meet climate goals. As such, the region’s thermal coal traders are increasingly focusing on other markets, such as Asia, or branching out into different commodities – including biomass, gas and LNG – as alternative energy sources squeeze fossil fuels from the European power mix. Reporting by Laurence Walker, Deputy Editor-in-Chief, Montel. Contributors: Guillaume Perret, Director, Perret Associates; Tomasz Mijal, Managing Director, Bulk Trading Polska; Wendelin Knauss, Trader, Uniper.