Benefits of Capturing and Using Coal Mine Methane
Coal mine methane (CMM) emissions represent a potential source of energy. The recovery and use of CMM emissions have benefits for the local community as well as the global environment. Some benefits of capturing and using CMM include:
- Reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, since methane is a very potent greenhouse gas
- Providing a valuable source of clean-burning energy that can be used to generate electric power, or as an alternative fuel for vehicles and other industrial/commercial applications
- Enhancing mine safety by reducing concentrations of explosive gases within the mine
- Providing additional revenue to mine operators when the gas is captured and sold.
Options for Capturing and Using CMM
Before CMM can be used, it must be captured by ventilation and drainage systems and then brought to the surface. Project developers review available data for a coal mine such as drainage efficiency, gas quality and quantity, end-use options, available markets, policies, and the economics of potential projects.
CMM can be used in many ways, including:
- Power generation
- Combined heat and power generation
- Sale to natural gas pipelines
- Coal drying
- Heat source for mine ventilation air
- Supplemental fuel for mine boilers
- Vehicle fuel as compressed or liquefied natural gas (LNG)
- Manufacturing feedstock
CMOP provides resources for CMM project development. Resources by project phase are available here: