Coal Mine Methane, US: SOLVAY, Wyoming

, Operating

The Solvay project is a mine methane abatement scheme located at the Solvay Chemicals, Inc. underground trona mine in Green River, Wyoming, US. The project involves the capture and use of methane drained from the Solvay trona mine. Trona is a mineral that is mined using processes (e.g., longwall) common in coal mining. The project was commissioned in August 2010 and is initially flaring mine gas while the utilization system is constructed. In January 2012, the project will begin utilizing the mine gas to generate heat in the on-site trona processing plant. The project was listed under the Climate Action Reserve in April 2010, and is expected to generate approximately 1.3 million CRTs over its life.

The project utilizes a traditional gob gas collection system and a state of the art, enclosed incinerator that destroys mine methane. During the utilization phase, the project will transport mine methane several kilometers to the processing plant. The gas will be conditioned and injected directly into existing boiler equipment. The project utilizes a new monitoring and measurement system that integrates with the mine’s existing control system and generates real-time extraction and destruction data.

Sindicatum has an advisory role on this project. Sindicatum was responsible for designing elements of the project that are associated with mine methane destruction and certification. This includes identification and design of the incinerator and monitoring and measurement system, writing project documentation, managing validation/verification, and advising Solvay on monetization of its carbon credit portfolio.