TAURON New Technologies is working on catalytic reactors for the utilization of methane from the ventilation air in mines with simultaneous energy recovery. Using 100% of methane captured in the process of demethanation of coal in Polish mines would allow for the production of over 1.500 GWh of electricity per year.
In 2021, 828 million m3 of methane was released in the process of hard coal extraction in Polish mines. 351 million m3 was captured in the process of demethanation from coal and brought to the surface. However, as much as 122 million m3 is released into the atmosphere, because the mining plants do not have a sufficiently efficient infrastructure capable of processing all the captured methane.
Artur Warzocha, Vice President of the Management Board of TAURON Polska Energia for corporate affairs explains, that the combustion of methane for the operation of methane engines is an effective way of using this gas while improving the safety of the mine crew. In order to use this technology on a wider scale, the industry needs the EU and national regulations, allowing for the creation of a financing model for the construction of such units.
The capture of methane and the conversion of its energy into useful forms reduces the emission of this gas to the atmosphere. The greenhouse effect caused by methane is many times larger than that caused by CO2 emissions. Currently, the European Union recognizes that the emission of one ton of methane is equivalent to 25 tons of CO2.
Piotr Apollo, President of the Management Board of TAURON New Technologies emphasizes that TAURON counts on selling its know-how. Installations with gas engines, connected to the storage system, could be established in other Polish mines rich in methane. This is a technology for the utilization of hazardous gas, through the conversion of chemical energy into electricity and heat. The problem is still methane escaping to the surface along with the ventilation air. TAURON is working on the development of catalytic reactors for the utilization of methane from the ventilation air with simultaneous energy recovery.
Adrian Andrzejewski