45.6-MW Queensland Mine Gas Project on Track to Help Save Up to About 1.5M Tons of CO2 per Year
Power-Gen International 2008
Booth #4600
ORLANDO, FLA.---December 2, 2008---GE Energy's largest ecomaginationTM certified, coal mine methane (CMM) power plant in Australia has been commissioned ahead of schedule as more mining companies seek to utilize their mine gas to create electricity for local uses and reduce their site emissions.
The methane-rich mine gas is being used to generate onsite power at Anglo Coal's Moranbah North mine in the state of Queensland, helping to reduce the amount of greenhouse gas that can escape into the atmosphere.
Through the capture and utilization of mine gas, the Moranbah North project will deliver significant environmental benefits, saving up to about 1.5 million tons of carbon dioxide (CO2) equivalents per year. The 15-engine, 45.6-megawatt (MW) power plant, contracted by Energy Developments Limited (ASX Code: ENE), is designed to contribute to the country's energy development goals and is accredited under the New South Wales Government Greenhouse Gas Abatement Scheme.
Australia's coal industry is focusing on reducing coal mine methane emissions because methane has 21 times the greenhouse-warming potential of carbon dioxide, the gas most closely associated with climate change. As a result, Australia has one of the world's most commercially advanced coal mine methane gas industries, according to the Australian Coal Association.
GE has supplied its Jenbacher engines for several of Australia's largest coal mine methane projects, demonstrating the environmental benefits and reliability of the engines, as well as their crucial ability to adjust to the mine gas' fluctuating quality levels.
"This project further demonstrates the commitment by carbon abatement companies like Energy Developments in conjunction with the Australian coal mining industry to leverage advanced technology, such as GE's Jenbacher gas engines, as part of the turnkey model delivered by Clarke Energy, to utilize an available source of energy while helping to reduce our mining operations' environmental impacts," said Greg Pritchard, managing director of Energy Developments.
Energy Developments installed the 3-MW gas engine units at the Moranbah North mine in Queensland, 1,117 kilometers north of Brisbane. Anglo Coal is one of Australia's largest coal producers. Energy Developments will be selling the plant's 45.6-MW output to the national grid.
GE's Jenbacher units were installed as part of the project's total turnkey award with Clarke Energy Australia, a subsidiary of Clarke Energy Group, GE's longtime Jenbacher authorized distributor in the U.K. The overall power station design, balance of the plant, SCAD controls and turnkey construction were provided by Clarke Energy Australia.
"We are very excited about our largest single project involving GE's coal mine gas engines in Australia," said Prady Iyyanki, CEO of GE Energy's Jenbacher gas engine business. "For GE, this project demonstrates that customers recognize the value gained from using high-tech, cost-effective gas engines for power generation. For the country overall, the project represents another bold effort to help Australia aggressively curtail its greenhouse gas emissions levels."
GE's Jenbacher coal mine gas engines are increasingly popular in coal-producing countries, including in Australia, China and throughout Europe, where customers are attracted by GE's durable, cost-effective technology that utilizes existing mine gas to generate power, lowers the mines' industrial emissions levels and makes their operating costs more predictable.
About GE Energy
GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2007 revenue of $22 billion. Based in Atlanta, Georgia, GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil, natural gas and nuclear energy; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels.
Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE's corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges. In addition to various cogeneration applications, GE's Jenbacher biogas, landfill gas and coal mine methane engines previously received ecomagination certification, underscoring the environmental and economic benefits offered from the utilization of generating energy from high methane content waste streams.
About GE
GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com. GE is Imagination at Work.
Australian Coal Association - http://www.australiancoal.com.au/environmentmethane.htm
Tom Murnane
Soteryx Corporation
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GE Gas Engines
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