Despite coal’s growing ‘pariah’ status due to its public health and climate impacts, and not forgetting tightening European regulatory requirements, Polska Grupa Energetyczna S.A. (PGE), Poland’s biggest producer of electricity, is still defiantly planning an almighty splurge of new coal expansion investments in both mining and burning. And this also despite worsening economic headwinds blowing directly in its face, as confirmed by company results for 2018 published this week. PGE’s current hit list includes the…

As the gavel of Germany’s Coal Commission went down in January cementing the details of the German coal phase-out, yet another glaring signal was sent out to power companies that coal is now in twilight. Caught in a dying business model, it is obvious that investments in coal-dependent utilities carry increasing financial risks. Tightening regulations and rapidly growing competition from cheaper, renewable alternatives are cutting into profitability, so it is hardly surprising that the financial community has sat up and taken notice. Europe…