Mine Site Greenhouse Mitigation Priorities
Fugitive gases are the largest source of greenhouse gas emissions from coal mining operations and as such are the primary focus of ACARP priorities in this area. Measurement of greenhouse gas emissions and utilisation of captured methane have been identified as the areas of greatest potential impact.
Australian coal producers need to measure, control and report greenhouse gas emissions as part of the National Greenhouse and Energy Reporting Scheme (NGERS). ACARP seeks proposals that:
- Ensure the industry can accurately measure the emissions from both open cut and underground operations.
- Act to reduce these emissions.
- Address any future requirements.
MEASUREMENT OF FUGITIVE EMISSIONS
It is critical for coal producers to be able to accurately determine their emissions and to know where improvements need to be made. The industry needs to understand the extent by source of mine site emissions and the uncertainty associated with these measurements, now and in the future. Proposals are sought to:
- Improve the reliability, accuracy and cost effectiveness of measuring, monitoring and reporting greenhouse gas emissions.
- Reduce the uncertainty of fugitive emissions measurement.
- Continue to develop verifiable industry practice methods suitable for use at individual mines to measure fugitive emissions from:
- open cut operations,
- operating underground operations,
- decommissioned underground operations.
CAPTURE OF MINE GAS
ACARP is interested in projects addressing open cut or underground operations with the potential to:
- Reduce gas drainage costs.
- Maximise pre-mining gas recovery.
- Improve the quality and consistency of mine gas production.
- Assess and manage the impacts of gas capture.
- Address future fugitive emission reduction requirements.
UTILISATION OR DESTRUCTION OF MINE GAS
Dilute sources of seam gas such as mine ventilation air are a significant challenge. Projects aimed at combusting or utilising dilute gas, or increasing the methane concentration to usable levels, in a cost neutral manner without the need for a supplementary fuel are encouraged. Commercial power generation technologies for high purity methane such as drainage gas are being increasingly adopted and are not seen as a high priority for further ACARP research.
GENERAL NOTE
The use of coal in the context of sustainable development is a major strategic issue for coal producers and the capture and geological storage of CO2 is likely to have an essential role in the future.
However, the committee will only consider proposals addressing greenhouse gas emissions resulting from the production of coal.
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