The return of coal and sustainable energy growth: scenarios before 2050

The 3 -years increase in oil and gas prices has accelerated a now obvious return of coal. Such a return is also a problem in terms of climate change risks, since the CO2 contents of a kWh is twice as high in a coal plant than in a gas turbine. Therefore there is a major risk for the planet's climate as long as coal projects do not involve plans to implement CO2 capturing and storage technologies. Scenarios developed with the POLES model illustrate two highly contrasting futures for coal at a world level. Contrasting with the current trends in a world with still few CO2 requirements, imposing strict emission goals could slow the progress of coal, while imposing the massive development of capture and storage technologies. This is probably one of the main conditions for continuing sustainable energy growth. (author)