US coal generation share falls to 18-month low in November: EIA

Power sector coal stockpiles were 32.3% lower at the end of November than the year-ago month and the lowest for the corresponding month in 21 years, Energy Information Administration data showed Jan. 28.

Since hitting 20-year low 80.42 million st in September, coal inventories grew to 92.15 million st at the end of November, up 8.6% from October and a 7.31 million st build.

Bituminous coal stocks were 33.2% lower than the five-year average 55.96 million st after November and 31.9% lower than the year-ago month. Compared with October, bituminous stocks were 8.2% higher at 37.36 million st, a four-month high. Bituminous supply at coal plants averaged 100 days of cover at the end of November, a seven-month high and 9.9% higher than October. Compared with the year-ago month, bituminous days of burn were 28.6% lower. Bituminous days of burn were nearly flat to the five-year average 99 days.

Subbituminous coal stocks rose to four-month high 51.51 million st after November, up 8.8% from October but 33.6% lower than November 2020. The volume was 31.9% lower than five-year average 75.59 million st.

On a days-of-burn basis, subbituminous coal stocks averaged 90 days of supply, up 7.1% from August but 21.1% lower than the year-ago month. It was flat to the five-year average 90 days of burn after November.

Of the total non-lignite coal capacity in the US, 12.2% reported a supply under 30 days after November, down from 14.9% in October but up from 4.35% in the year-ago month. Lignite stocks grew 10.9% month on month after November at 3.28 million st. It was the highest total since 3.56 million st in December 2020.

Coal generation share hits 18-month low

US power generation from coal totaled 57.4 TWh in November, down 8.3% on the month and 6.2% on the year. Coal represented 18.2% of the stack in November, an 18-month low. In the year-ago month, coal's share was 20.3%. Power generation from coal was 29.6% lower than the five-year average in November.

Natural gas generated 122.42 TWh in November, down 6.8% on the month but 11.6% higher than the year-ago month. Gas made up 38.8% of November power generation, a six-month low but 16.7% higher than the five-year average.

Wind generated 36.05 TWh in November, up 11.1% from October and 8.8% from November 2020. Wind generation made up 11.4% of the stack in November, a seven-month high.

Utility solar generated 7.8 TWh in November, down 14.7% on the month but up 35.9% from the year-ago month. Solar made up 2.5% of total power generation, a nine-month low.

Coal plants ran at a capacity factor of about 39.1% in November, down from 40.8% in the previous month and 39.6% in the year-ago month. It was the lowest coal capacity factor for the corresponding month in eight years. Natural gas plants ran at a capacity factor of 51.4%, down from 52.7% in October and 47.6% in November 2020.