Jenbacher Coal Mine Gas Engine

Our innovative engines help dispose of a coal mine gas by harnessing it as an energy source — avoiding liberation of methane, which has 21 times the global warming potential of CO2 into the atmosphere.

Active coal mines account for nearly 10 percent of the United States' anthropogenic emissions. These mines emit methane, a greenhouse gas more than 20 times as potent as carbon dioxide in the atmosphere.

GE's innovative solution: coal mine gas as an energy source

GE's innovative Jenbacher Coal Mine Gas Engine helps dispose of coal mine gas by harnessing it as an energy source, avoiding the liberation of methane. Compared to venting the gas, using coal mine gas in Jenbacher engines can reduce the release of methane into the atmosphere by 85percent. This corresponds to carbon dioxide savings of about 30,000 to 40,000 tons per year.

In addition to providing environmental benefits, Jenbacher Coal Mine Gas Engines save customers money. One hundred Jenbacher units with a total capacity over 200MW run on coal mine methane generating 1.5 million MWh per year, saving 367 million cubic meters of natural gas per year.

The Jenbacher Coal Mine Gas Engine in action

The Tahmoor colliery in New South Wales, Australia produces more than two million tons of run-of mine (ROM) coal annually, releasing enough coal mine gas to generate more than 7 MW of energy. That energy was going to waste until GE installed seven Jenbacher generator sets to open up this unused resource.

Because Tahmoor colliery is an active coal mine, the gas is less stable and therefore very demanding to burn in an engine. The Jenbacher handles this unstable gas with ease and achieves minimum emissions through the patented LEANOX lean mixture combustion system.

The power captured is sold to a regional grid and used to offset the local supply requirements of the mine, fulfilling environmental and business needs of Tahmoor. The power plant project also allows Tahmoor to participate in Australia's government Greenhouse Challenge, an initiative that supports industry efforts to reduce carbon emissions.