Coal to Clean

Coal to Clean Toolkit

Developed by the World Economic Forum, in collaboration with Accenture, this Toolkit compiles best practices on coal to clean repurposing. 

Explore the below case studies to discover re-powering technologies, financing mechanisms and just-transition best practices. 

Two wind turbines on rolling green hills under a dramatic cloudy sky, representing clean energy repowering and just transition practices.
Technology

Discover re-powering technologies that enable the transformation of coal-fired power plants into clean energy hubs, driving innovation in the global energy transition

Finance

Explore innovative financing mechanisms that unlock capital for coal-to-clean projects, addressing key investment challenges and risks

Just Transition

Learn best practices for ensuring a fair and equitable transition, prioritizing social and economic outcomes for communities impacted by coal phase-out.

Discover all our case-studies and best practices

The Latrobe Valley is home to large brown coal reserves and has been the main source of power generation for Victoria and south-eastern Australia for more than 130 years. In November 2016, Engie announced the closure of the Hazelwood Power Station and Mine, impacting approximately 1000 direct and indirect jobs. In response, the Victorian State Government established a Mine Rehabilitation Commission, and created the Latrobe Valley Authority. This included an investment package of $AUD266 million over four years to support workers, business and local communities. Key elements • A Worker Transition Service connected local workers and their families to support services that enabled them to acquire new skills, training and information. They had access to a number of pathways including: new employment opportunities; start their own business; or retirement (+1400 people supported).• A Worker Transfer Scheme offering Hazelwood workers directly impacted by power plant closure re-employment opportunities locally, from other power generators in the region.• A “Back to Work Scheme” provided employers with a financial incentive to hire and train unemployed people as well as retrenched workers from local industry (+800 people employed).• An $AUD85 million “Latrobe Valley Sports and Community Initiative” supported construction and upgrades of many sporting precincts in the Latrobe Valley.  This increased participation in local community clubs and provided an economic boost through visitation to the region for major events. (Partnerships with 9 elite sporting organizations have brought over 30 major events to the region).• An $AUD20 million Community Facility Fund supporting 180 different community groups to undertake tourism and cultural projects.• An Economic Facilitation Fund supporting business growth, economic diversity and new job creation (+ 962 jobs created). • “GROW Gippsland”, a programme that strengthens social and economic outcomes through localised procurement and increases job opportunities for key target groups, including transitioning workers and people with barriers to employment.• Extensive consultations with citizens and communities to develop a common understanding of what the future of work looks like in the region.Benefits• The investment program fostered re-employment, up-skilling, supply chain support, economic stimulation as well as diversification creating new jobs and improving liveability, pride and social connection.• Core fields of regional development were identified with the help of local academic partners. They include renewable energy (building on strong workforce and technical capacity in the power sector as well as available natural resources), food and fibre, as well a tourism.• Multi-stakeholder approach giving a “voice” to all community members including those that might not otherwise be heard.Enabling conditions • Authorisation from senior levels of State Government including funding for four initial years covering a place based approach that recognised comprehensive community impact.• Recognition that the regional transition would take time and involve different phases including: Response, Recovery and Resilience Building.• Community, business, industry, government and education were empowered to work together to create genuine conditions for economic diversification and long-term sustainable prosperity.• Strong local governance and an approach focusing on identifying gaps, strengths, and opportunities.• Direct involvement of public sector specialists working alongside academics, business, and communities.
Just Transition
Latrobe Valley Authority, Victoria, Australia
Government of Victoria, Latrobe Valley Authority
In April 2015, the Just Transition Fund (JTF) was created by eight American family funds and foundation partners as a response to the POWER Initiative. The JTF aims to create economic opportunity for communities and workers hardest hit by the transition away from coal. $8.25 million in grants were committed until 2020, while $120 million in public funding were leveraged to create +2,000 jobs, 380 new businesses, train 6,500 low-income workers for jobs in sustainable sectors, and help families save more than US$23 million in energy costs. A key service provided by the JTF is its Blueprint for Transition, a comprehensive online resource to help coal communities create an equitable, sustainable, and inclusive future. The Blueprint was leveraged by many communities, including in Minnesota, where it helped the Town of Becker to plan and mobilize businesses (recycling, trucking, data centre…) years before the first of three power generation stations was retired. In West Virginia, the blueprint helped the Mingo County Redevelopment Authority repurpose former mining sites and unused lands for new economic activities such as manufacturing, farming, and tourism.Key elements • Free “Build Your Plan” guide helping to take stock of impacts, engage stakeholders, and build a framework for action for communities impacted by coal plant or mine closures following 4 steps:1. Take stock of the community’s capacity for transition planning by identifying a leadership team, building the community profile, and quantifying the impacts of the closure as well as the opportunities for the community.2. Engage with all partners and stakeholders and agree on clear, measurable goals.3. Build the framework for action by determining how the community will measure progress towards shared goals and generating ideas for getting to an agreed upon vision for the future.4. Take action with organizations such as JTF providing technical assistance to support communities on their journey.• A policy database providing an overview of policies that state/local lawmakers and transition advocates can adapt to address local needs and opportunities as they transition away from coal to more diversified economies.Benefits• Provides impacted stakeholders with tips and information that are backed by first-hand experience of coal communities that are on track for a successful and just transition.• Shares relevant policies and legislations that can guide communities with sound decision-making. Enabling conditions• Feedback gathered from coal communities undergoing energy transition in order to shape the JTF’s Blueprint for Transition.• Diverse set of Philanthropic Partners that support JTF’s grant making activities, technical assistance, and operations.
Just Transition
Just Transition Fund’s Blueprint for Transition, USA
USA Government
The Just Transition Strategy is one of three key pillars of the Strategic Energy and Climate Framework prepared by the Government of Spain. It provides a strategy to ensure that people and regions make the most of the opportunities offered by a sustainable transition. As part of this Strategy, specific measures are preconised in the Urgent Action Plan for Coal-mining Regions and Power Plant Closures. These measures are complemented by a Framework Agreement for a Just Transition in Coal Mining for the period 2019-2027.Key elements > Just Transition Strategy• Regular analysis from Employment Observatory to assess transition trends and including job creations, skills in increasing demand, and training needs.• Incorporation of green employment and social protection policies into the Annual Employment Policy Plans.• Inclusion of transition content into compulsory secondary education, vocational training and higher education curricula.> Urgent Action Plan• Early retirement or severance payment for employees impacted by mine/plant closure.• Mine restoration plan allowing short-term maintenance of employment and proper site closure/restoration of natural space, accompanied by a renewables and energy efficiency development plan to open new job opportunities.• Just Transition Agreements to maintain regional employment and seek economic diversification, signed by private and public parties. Agreements must include roadmaps, agreed transformation calendars, as well as measurable economic and environmental targets (e.g. jobs created/maintained, number of business creations, environmental improvement…). Technical assistance is provided via a Just Transition Institute.> Framework Agreement signed between Ministries of Ecological Transition and Labour, Trade Unions and Employers (coal miners and power producers):• €250 million fund.• Exceptional social measures including pre-retirement, voluntary severance payments, relocation and training plans.• Reactivation plan to support non-coal business initiatives that generate employment and the development of mining regions.Benefits• Combination of measures targeting social well-being of communities as well as economic recovery and alternative development of mining regions. • Social dialogue between diverse governmental and non-governmental stakeholders, including unions, local communities and private actors.Enabling conditions• Long-standing commitment to Just Transition from Spanish government allowing for a planned and cohesive approach.• EU support/endorsement of coal transition planning.
Just Transition
Just Transition Strategy, Spain
Spain Government

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