A new report from Global Energy Monitor highlights a powerful opportunity. Nearly 300 gigawatts of solar power could be installed on former coal mines by 2030. That’s around 15 percent of today’s total global solar capacity.

Since 2020, more than 300 surface coal mines have shut down, and many more are expected to close soon. These sites, often large open spaces with existing connections to the power grid, offer prime real estate for solar energy development. Altogether, the land available could support enough solar power to supply a country the size of Germany.

The benefits go beyond clean energy. Building solar farms on these sites could restore damaged land, bring new life to struggling communities, and create jobs. The report estimates nearly 260,000 permanent jobs, plus over 300,000 temporary construction and installation roles. That is significantly more than the number of jobs expected to be lost from coal closures.

Countries like China have already begun converting old coal sites to solar farms. Others, including the United States, Australia, India, and Indonesia, are well-positioned to follow. Reusing coalfields for renewable energy is a smart and sustainable way to move toward a cleaner energy future.