Gas reduction

The US Department of Energy (DOE) has joined in sponsoring the first US test of a system that may make a major contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

Using a new application of existing technology, engineers will attempt to capture methane in underground coal mine air, and if successful could limit emission of a greenhouse gas with more than 20 times the warming potential of CO2.

Methane in underground coal mine air constitutes approximately five percent of all US methane emissions and is the equivalent of about 32 million tons of CO2 per year.  The test will evaluate the long-term technical and economic feasibility of reducing methane emissions from underground coal mining.

The test is being conducted by CONSOL Energy and MEGTEC Systems in a closed mine near West Liberty, WV, for a period of eight months.  The $2.1 million undertaking is sponsored by DOE and the US Environmental Protection Agency and the operational phase has just begun.