Benefits

Utilisation of discharging mine gas for energy recovery constitutes a considerable relief for the environment.

Environment

Naturally emerging in coal mine gas methane (chemically CO4) as compared with carbon dioxide (chemically CO2) contains a 23 times higher potential relevant for the Greenhouse Effect. Therefore the reasonable utilisation is especially important to protect the surface and to avoid the emergence of Greenhouse Gases in the atmosphere (Kyoto Protocol).
By substituting the energy production from conventional energy sources the discharge of CO2 is reduced in a considerable manner. One coal mine gas plant with an electrical power level of 1.35 MW avoids approximately 45,000 tonnes of CO2 emissions each year.

The Climate Protection Concept of the federal state of North Rhine-Westphalia provides a short-term reduction of CO2 emissions by means of the utilisation of coal mine gas to an extent of 3.6 millions tonnes per year.

By dint of their mine gas activities with a reduction of the equivalent of 2.4 million tonnes of CO2 per year Minegas Ltd. already now substantially contributes to the achievement of this aim.
Potential short-term savings of equivalent CO2 emissions by the utilisation of coal mine gas (in millions of tonnes p.a.):

Energy

Minegas Ltd.'s variable plant technology enables an intensive exploitation of energy. Furthermore, the utilisation of coal mine gas for energy production conserves other energy resources. Savings of approximately 100,000 tonnes of coal per annum releases the fossil energy reserves. Thus, Minegas Ltd. makes an important contribution to climate precaution and resource protection in NR-W.