Creating energy from waste methane

Methane is a relatively potent greenhouse gas with a high global warming potential (GWP) when compared to carbon dioxide. When averaged over 100 years, it is now estimated that each tonne of methane warms the earth by the equivalent of 25 tonnes of carbon dioxide. A lower GWP of 21 is applied for calculating the carbon credits generated by any one project.

Historically, methane has been released into the atmosphere through a range of natural processes and man-made activities. Emission reduction projects around the world have started to tackle these activities, capturing the methane and preventing it from being released into the atmosphere. Camco has been at the forefront of efforts to reduce methane emissions from coal mines, where the trapped gas is disturbed by underground mining activity. It is normally vented into the atmosphere to prevent dangerous build-up of gas in the mine. Camco has helped develop the UN consolidated methodology for coal bed and coal mine methane, ACM008. Camco has also developed projects utilising methane from landfill projects.

Such projects can either flare vented gas (turning methane into carbon dioxide and water vapour) or use the gas to generate electricity. All Camco’s activities have captured and then utilised methane to generate electricity. When used to generate electricity, there is also an additional emission reduction benefit as methane-generated electricity displaces fossil fuels on the grid.