Coal is the principal fuel for the global generation of electrical power. It is the leading source of power generation in OECD countries and the dominant fuel source behind economic growth in non-OECD countries.

Coal is an important source of energy for the world, particularly for power generation. To meet the growth in demand for energy over the past decade, the contribution from coal has exceeded that of any other energy source. Additionally, coal has contributed almost half of total growth in electricity over the past decade.