Coal power generators in Europe face €6.6-billion ($7.3-billion) of losses this year as plunging renewable energy costs and cheap natural gas cut use of the dirtiest plants to a record low. Almost 80% of lignite and hard coal-fired generators will be unprofitable this year, a hit the industry is unlikely to survive without government help, according to a report from Carbon Tracker. The research group pushing for lower greenhouse gas emissions calls for a continent-wide phaseout of the most polluting fossil fuel by 2030.
