According to latest forecasts in “Coal Fired Boilers: World Analysis and Forecast” published by the McIlvaine Company, World coal capacity is expected to reach approximately 2,500 GW by the end of 2020, an increase of nearly 60% from 2008.

The report said that East Asia will lead the way with the biggest total gain in capacity, while West Asia will enjoy the largest percentage growth, approximately 300%.

The report said that coal capacity in Western Europe is presently more than double compared to West Asia, but by 2020 the capacities are projected to be nearly equal. East Asia will operate nearly half of the world's coal-fired power plant capacity by 2020. China is already the world's largest operator of coal-fired plants. It passed the US in total capacity two years ago. In 2007, China started construction of new coal-fired power plants with a net capacity of 93,000 MW.

The projected capacity through 2012 is based on the specific plant plans which are tracked by McIlvaine in its World Power Generation Projects. Capacity projections for later years are based on the odds assessment for important future events.