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Dept of Trade and Industry

Answer

Ms Walley: To ask the Secretary of State for Trade and Industry what assessment she has made of the implications of (a) converting coal mine methane to energy and (b) venting coal mine methane; and if she will make a statement on support for coal mine methane-related technology. [190236] Mr. Mike O'Brien: The Government commissioned a study in 2003 to see if there are any possible mechanisms, consistent with the objectives of the Energy White Paper, which could be deployed to encourage the control of CMM emissions. This study was undertaken by independent consultants and was overseen by a Advisory Board of representatives from the industry, DTI, DEFRA, and the Coal Authority. The purpose of the exercise was to investigate means for controlling emissions to atmosphere from abandoned mines where the current practice of venting is clearly undesirable. The results of the study are available on the DTI's website at http://www.dti.gov.uk/energy/coal/ cfft/coalminemethane.shtml. The study included an assessment of commercially exploiting CMM for power generation or for use as a burner tip fuel. The consultants found that the least cost option for dealing with these methane emissions was through flaring rather than putting them to commercial use. It was also concluded that the potential capacity for power generation, beyond that already exploited by the industry, was limited at less than 20 MW. There was therefore no significant security of supply arguments for specifically encouraging electricity generation from CMM. However, as a result of this study it was proposed that a scheme be established to control CMM emissions, which would be open to all technology options, including electricity generation, burner tip fuel use as well as flaring. Proposals from the private sector to control the emissions would be competitively considered by the Coal Authority and the most cost- effective solution awarded a contract leaving them to decide on the most cost-effective means of control. The Government recognise and value the benefits the coal mine methane technology industry provides by tapping the methane emissions from disused coal mines and putting them to good use for generation of electricity. We have already demonstrated this support through our securing exemption from the climate change levy for electricity generated from CMM which came into force in November 2003, and why the proposed grant-scheme will be open to this technology.

Secondary information

Type

Written question

Reference

425 c317-8W; 190236

Session

2003-04

Subjects

Coal Electricity generation Research Methane

Link

View this Written question on www.publications.parliament.uk