Introduction: In this episode of Unlocking the Energy Trilemma, Ravi Krishnan and Jose A. Martinez speak with Hans Georg Conrads, the Managing Director of PROMECON about why coal continues to matter in today’s energy landscape. Hans talks about how quickly coal can power a plant, underlining the scale of global demand that renewables alone cannot yet meet. The discussion is about pressures from fast-growing economies, the surge of AI-driven data centers, and the limitations of existing storage technologies. While many expected coal to fade, Hans explains why dispatchable power remains essential and why coal still serves as a backbone for both developed and developing nations. The episode also talks about the broader economic and political realities that shape energy decisions worldwide.
Questions
Can you share with us a fact or figure that you think is most relevant to the energy trilemma? What do you bring us?
Coal was widely expected to fade quietly. Why do you think it’s being called back into service today? And in your view, is this more of a temporary stopgap until new capacity is built, or is coal becoming a strategic hedge for longer than many anticipate?
At the last annual EPRI Flexibility Conference, it was noted that non-dispatchable coal or thermal power plants would be replaced by intermittent renewables, supported by firm capacity. You’ve mentioned this is a challenge in the U.S., and politically, President Trump is supporting coal. Given this landscape, is it fair to say that coal is not going away in the short term?
How do you see new demand pressures reshaping the energy mix in developed economies like the U.S. over the next decade? You mentioned AI and data centers, as well as coal remaining in play for a considerable time. What does this renewed focus on coal reveal about the resilience or vulnerability of the current energy transition strategy? Is this in lines with what was originally anticipated, or would this mean a serious readjustment?
Are you suggesting that with renewables operating at around a 20% capacity factor, reliability cannot be assured because of their intermittency? And that unless energy storage becomes reliable, long-duration, and inexpensive, a fully renewable solution isn’t realistic until those challenges are addressed? Is that accurate?
You mentioned about the political aspect. If a single country imposes strict regulations without considering global competition, it could make it very difficult for local manufacturers such as steel producers to compete with countries where energy is cheaper due to lighter regulations. Do you think this situation is fixable? Or are countries that impose such high-cost regulations ultimately pushing themselves toward deindustrialization?
After a decade of deferred investment, many thermal plants like coal and gas are now being asked to do more. What does this mean for the industry at large and for utility executives as they set their priorities today? This seems like a sudden shift in direction. Would you agree?
Do you see a new wave of investment coming for these nearly abandoned coal-fired power plants? And do you expect this to drive a push for new technologies in these plants?
Countries with access to gas usually prefer to use it because it’s cleaner, faster, and easier, and coal makes a comeback only when gas isn’t enough. How can we keep coal as a reliable backup without letting it slow down the shift to cleaner power?
If you had a magic wand, what would you ask for to unlock the energy trilemma? If you could request anything to fix it, what would you ask of the world?