The Most Coal Is Stockpiled at U.S. Power Plants Since 2020 (COVID Time)
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Coal stockpiles at U.S. electric power plants totaled 138 million short tons at the end of May, the most since the first half of 2020 when the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic reduced electricity demand and coal consumption.
In the United States, coal is typically consumed by power plants following the seasonal pattern of electricity generation; most coal consumption occurs during the summer and winter. Because power plants consume more coal during the warm summer months, power plants typically begin increasing their coal stocks in the spring as plant operators prepare.
U.S. coal power plants generally stockpile much more coal than they consume in a month, with more than 90% of coal-fired power plants currently having enough coal on hand to generate electricity for 60 days or more. We estimate days of burn as the number of days a sample of coal plants can generate electricity using their current stockpiles. Coal plant operators keep extra coal on hand because physical delivery constraints in the supply chain limit how quickly coal plants can increase their stockpiles.
As coal-fired electricity generation has declined in the United States over the last decade, coal plant stockpiles have also generally declined. Coal consumption by the electric power sector totaled 385 million tons in 2023, 43% less than in 2016. Coal stockpiles reached 131 million tons by the end of 2023, 19% less than stockpiles at the end of 2016.
Our Form EIA-923 detailed data contains more information about coal stockpiles at power plants, and our Electricity Monthly Update publication has information about days of burn at coal power plants.
Principal contributor: Chris Cassar. Originally published on Today in Energy.
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