Converting Waste Coal Mine Gas to Generate Electricity Project 1 - Envirogen
GREENHOUSE GAS ABATEMENT PROGRAM PROJECT
Project management: Envirogen Pty Ltd
Project details:
- The aim of the Envirogen project was to use the waste coal mine gas methane from underground mining operations to generate electricity.
- Methane is a significant contributor to the greenhouse effect with a global warming potential 21 times greater than carbon dioxide. Methane from coal mining accounts for 3.4 per cent of all greenhouse gas emissions in Australia. Normally methane is vented to the atmosphere for safety, but now power stations can use the methane as an energy source (natural gas contains around 90 per cent methane).
- Envirogen designed and built two waste coal mine gas power stations (one at Teralba Colliery,NSW and one at Oaky Creek Coal Mine, QLD) and upgraded the Tahmoor Colliery Power Station, NSW.
- The three power stations were successfully constructed and commissioned as follows:
| Commenced | Commissioned | |
|---|---|---|
| Tahmoor | Early 2003 | February 2004 |
| Teralba | July 2003 | June 2004 |
| Oaky Creek | July 2005 | July 2006 |
GGAP funding: $13 million
Total project cost: $33.6 million
Environmental achievements:
- Expected greenhouse gas abatement:
The three power stations are expected to produce a total abatement of 2.6 million tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (MtCO2e) in the Kyoto commitment period 2008 to 2012. - Displacement of coal fuelled electricity:
The total generating capacity of the three power stations is 25MW. The Envirogen project supported the development of 20MW.
The electricity generated from the power station is supplied directly to the energy distribution system and is sufficient to power about 20,000 homes per year.
This displaces the need for an equivalent amount of coal fuel generated electricity.
Technical summary:
The main feature of the Envirogen approach is the modular design with generating units located close to the mining operation. The engine enclosures are custom designed to suit the requirements of the site and operating conditions, such as temperature and noise abatement requirements and can be moved to other locations.
| Colliery owned/operated | Capacity | Nominal generation | Estimated total abatement 2008-2012 (million tonnes CO2-e) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Tahmoor Colliery (NSW) | Centennial Coal (previously Austral Coal) | 2 MW | 16 GWh/A | 0.293 MtCO2e |
| Teralba Colliery (Newcastle, NSW) | Oceanic Coal | 6 MW | 48 GWh/A | 0.077 MtCO2e |
| Oaky Creek Colliery (north of Emerald, Queensland) | Xstrata Coal Queensland | 12 MW | 96 GWh/A | 2.231 MtCO2e |
Public Dissemination Report: Download Converting Waste Coal Mine Gas to Generate Electricity Project
Note: Carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2-e) is the basis for comparing the warming effect of a greenhouse gas as compared to carbon dioxide and is calculated by multiplying the mass of a greenhouse gas by its global warming potential.
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