There are a number of large coal-fired power plants being retired in Europe and the U.S. Contrary to popular belief, the valve market is thriving with these large industrial facilities and new plants are being planned in many Asian countries. In more populated areas of the world, where the sun and wind conditions are less than ideal, they are the most economical choice for new power.
Ultra-supercritical designs in these plants typically offer significantly higher efficiency than traditional subcritical designs, with efficiencies of around 45% versus 30% for traditional coal plants. This efficiency increase translates into similar reductions in carbon dioxide per megawatt.