Beyond Coal
Achieving the goal of limiting the global average temperature increase to less than 2 °C above pre-industrial levels will require a major shift in how we generate electricity. At present, electricity production accounts for around two-thirds of global emissions and relies heavily on coal and natural gas. Both fuels release large amounts of CO₂ when burned, with coal emitting roughly twice as much as natural gas. As a result, removing these fuels – especially coal – from the energy mix is essential.
However, moving away from fossil fuels presents several challenges:
- Economic impacts: Coal remains one of the cheapest sources of electricity when environmental costs are not included. Phasing it out could raise electricity prices and reduce affordability for consumers.
- Social and cultural factors: Reducing coal use could lead to significant job losses, particularly in regions that depend on coal mining and coal-fired power generation. In some countries, coal also has deep cultural and historical roots, making the transition socially and emotionally difficult.
- Grid reliability: Coal-fired power stations provide steady, dispatchable electricity, helping maintain grid stability. Replacing coal with variable renewable sources, such as wind and solar, can make it harder to guarantee a reliable supply and may increase the risk of blackouts.
Beyond Coal is an Interactive.li-powered, ready-to-run interactive session that introduces participants to the complexities of transforming a coal-dependent electricity system. It offers a structured environment where players can explore how technical, economic, and social considerations shape decisions in the power sector.
Working in small groups, participants act as advisers tasked with designing a future electricity generation portfolio for a fictional country. Their goal is to create a system that is affordable, reliable, and low-emission. Using the country’s demand profile and technology data, each group selects its preferred combination of generation and storage technologies and submits its proposal to a live simulator. Powered by the open-source IESO optimiser, the simulator evaluates each design and provides key performance indicators, including cost, emissions intensity, and operational reliability.
Beyond Coal is designed to be engaging, collaborative, and thought-provoking. Groups compare their results, discuss the factors influencing their system’s performance, and reflect on the strategic lessons that emerge. Success requires teamwork, analytical thinking, and an appreciation of how individual decisions affect broader economic and environmental goals.