Change in Global Energy Mix & Fly Ash Market

Change in Global Energy Mix & Fly Ash Market

Author Name : Dr Surabhi, Pramod Kumar Singh

ABSTRACT

Electricity generated by new wind and solar helped to force a record fall in global coal power in 2020. However, this was only possible because the pandemic paused the world’s rising demand for electricity. Only China saw a large increase in coal in 2020. This transition appears to be beginning to have an impact on the global energy mix, as coal generation fell by a record 4% (-346 terawatt-hours (TWh)) in 2020.China is responsible for more than half (53%) of the world’s coal-fired electricity and hence the largest Fly Ash producer in the world.The global fly ash market Size was valued at USD 8.54 billion in 2019 and is projected to reach USD 13.33 billion by 2027, exhibiting a CAGR of 5.83 %.

China and Japan are two of the top five largest coal-fired power generating countries in the world. The two major Asian economies, which are both amongst the world’s highest emitters, continue to rely heavily on coal power despite a number of countries announcing plans to shift away from high-polluting fossil fuels. China is still struggling to curb its coal generation growth. Fast-rising demand for electricity is driving up coal power and emissions. More sustainable demand growth will enable China to phase out its large coal fleet, especially the least efficient sub-critical coal units, and provide greater opportunity for the country to attain its climate aspirations.

India has started its clean electricity transition. India now needs to ramp up wind and solar considerably in the next decade to both replace coal and meet rising electricity demand. India has the opportunity to ensure that coal generation doesn’t see a resurgence after the last two years of coal falling.

One of the by-products of the combustion of coal in power plants is ash. Fly ash and bottom ash are the two kinds of ash.Finely divided residueresulting from the combustion of ground or powdered coal which is transported fromthe fire box through the boiler by flue gases. Fly ash, which accounts for 80% of total ash generated, is released along with other flue gases and is supposed to be captured by electrostatic precipitators or other pollution control technologies.

Global fly ash market is estimated to grow from USD 3.4 billion in 2018 to USD 4.5 billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 6.0%. The fly ash market has been growing owing to the growth in the construction industry, increasing focus on infrastructure and road paving, problems related to dumping fly ash, promotion of fly ash by governments of various countries, and increasing focus on the use of environment-friendly products.

This paper is expected to touch upon nuances of global fly ash market amidst the welcome change in global energy mix. When the world is looking up to their transformational leaders at Glasglow, Scotland, who are poised to take revolutionary positive steps of action at COP26 climate change summit this November, how utilization of fly ash produced at present is playing a major role towards saving the environment.

Keywords: Fly Ash, Climate Change, Global Energy Mix, utilization, COP26, renewables.