Systems-level Repurposing of Coal Assets: Insights from South Africa, India, and the United States

The global coal value chain is extensive and spans countries. Nearly 7000 coal mines collectively produce over 8.5 billion tons of coal every year. Over 2400 coal-fired power plants across the globe operate with a capacity of 2175 gigawatts. Then, there are numerous rail networks, trucks, and port terminals that constitute parts of the coal value chain. Yet in a net-zero world, this value chain will need to shrink rapidly, which could negatively impact the economies and communities that currently depend on it. Scholars and practitioners believe that repurposing elements of the coal value chain for other uses – such as using repurposed coal mines for solar – could be an innovative way to boost the overall energy transition and facilitate a just transition for local communities. However, prior studies and real-world practice has focused on repurposing individual assets such as individual coal power plants. Despite the global scale of coal infrastructure abandonment and apparent opportunities for repurposing whole value chains, no studies provide a comprehensive understanding of the state of knowledge about coal sector repurposing in major coal dependent economies. Moreover, prior work does not take a comprehensive “systems-level” approach to repurposing. Authors fill these gaps. They construct three comparative case studies – focusing on South Africa, India, and the US – to describe the current state of repurposing efforts in each country and explore the potential for systems-level repurposing. They define systems-level repurposing as the transformation of two or more components of the coal value chain into new interlinked industrial applications. They collected data for the case studies through a literature review, field visits to coal-dependent areas, 42 interviews, and a workshop involving experts and key stakeholders. They find that different countries are at different stages of repurposing research, planning and implementation. Coal mines and power plants have been the primary focus of repurposing efforts to date, while transport networks (apart from the US) and export/import terminals remain largely overlooked. In addition, neither research nor policy action takes a systems-level approach to repurposing. They identify three promising pathways for systems-level repurposing: alternative energy, overburden to sand, and agriculture. Overall, their work highlights the need for more holistic, value chain-level repurposing planning to support a just energy transition.