Turning abandoned coal mines into PV plants could boost global solar capacity by 15%

Building photovoltaic plants on abandoned open-pit coal mines could add nearly 300 GW of new solar worldwide, equivalent to 15% of the current global capacity, according to a survey by Global Energy Monitor (GEM). Greece and three Western Balkan countries are among the global leaders in projects to build solar at abandoned coal mines.

It shows that over 300 open-pit coal mines recently out of commission could house around 103 GW of photovoltaic capacity, while upcoming closures of 127 large operations could host an additional 185 GW of solar. Nearly all abandoned coal mines and upcoming closures covered by the survey are in close proximity to existing grid infrastructure, including substations and transmission lines.

The 15% increase in solar capacity could cover the electricity needs of Germany

GEM estimates that this 15% increase in the global solar capacity would be roughly enough to meet the annual electricity consumption of a country like Germany. The report also notes that coal mine to solar conversion is a practice that aligns land reclamation with clean energy goals and local job creation.

GEM recalls that in 2024, total solar capacity additions in the world reached a record 599 GW, with more than 2 TW of utility-scale projects currently under development.

GEM: China is the global leader in coal-to-solar transition

China is the global leader in coal-to-solar conversion, with 90 projects already operational, totaling 14 GW, and 46 more in the pipeline, with a combined capacity of 9 GW, according to GEM’s survey. Australia has 2.7 GW of announced projects, followed by the United States, with about 1.3 GW of announced projects and as much in the pre-construction phase.

In Europe, Greece leads the way, with 1.44 GW of announced projects and 550 MW in the pre-construction phase, while Germany has a total of 868 MW, of which 20% are already operating and 75% are in the pre-construction phase, according to GEM’s data.

In the Western Balkans, North Macedonia has 100 MW of projects under construction and another 100 MW announced, followed by Bosnia and Herzegovina, with 115 MW in the pre-construction phase, and Serbia, with 97 MW of announced projects.

GEM’s survey covered only open-pit coal mines decommissioned in the last five years and those whose closure is expected by the end of 2030.

However, according to announcements from developers and grid operators, several large-scale PV projects on coal land have already been completed in the region tracked by Balkan Green Energy News.

In Greece, the capacity in operation is nearing 1 GW. In North Macedonia, a part of the REK Oslomej coal power complex is now home to three solar power plants, with a total capacity of 140 MW, while in Serbia, the 9.75 MW Petka PV plant is about to go online.