"China's government has put energy security and energy transition at odds with one another," said Greenpeace's Gao Yuhe, who led the research published on Thursday.
"Beijing has clearly stated that coal power will still grow at a 'reasonable pace' into 2030," she said.
China's National Energy Administration (NEA) did not immediately reply to a fax sent requesting a comment on the coal plants and their power generation policies.
The increase in China's coal usage reflects a worldwide pattern.
The International Energy Agency said last week that global coal consumption reached a record 8.3 billion tons in 2022, with strong growth in Asia offsetting declines elsewhere.
Persons:
David Gray, Gao Yuhe, Xi Jinping, Gao, Jorrit Gosens, David Stanway, Christian Schmollinger
Organizations:
Mongolia Autonomous, REUTERS, Companies Greenpeace, Greenpeace, National Energy Administration, International Energy Agency, National Development, Reform Commission, European, Global Energy Monitor, Australian National University, NEA, Thomson
Locations:
Baotou, China's, Mongolia, Mongolia Autonomous Region, SINGAPORE, China, Beijing, Asia, European Union