What Is Mine Methane
and How Do We Use It?
What is Mine Methane?
Mine methane is the methane released from mining activity. Currently, this gas is often intentionally vented into the atmosphere at active mine sites and continues to vent when these sites are abandoned. However, wasting methane gas is wasted opportunity, as it should be captured and used to generate energy while creating real impact in the fight against climate change.
How can we capture mine methane?
Mine methane can be captured through specially engineered boreholes that supplement mining ventilation systems. It can also be exhausted from the mine shafts along with ventilation air then directed to a storage area where the gas is assessed for its best use. End-uses of specific gases will depend on the quality of the gas, the concentration of methane, and potential contaminants. When quality mine methane is captured and processed, it can be used to generate energy.
Why capture mine methane?

Methane emissions from active and abandoned mines account for around 8% of total U.S. methane emissions annually. While venting methane is necessary for mine safety and is also a byproduct of mine abandonment, releasing any methane into the atmosphere has environmental and opportunity costs, as methane is a valuable resource that can be used for energy production.

With less than 2% of active mines in the U.S. are working to capture and use waste methane, there is a major opportunity to expand capture practices. Capturing mine methane will help reduce the methane emitted to atmosphere from active underground mines, which, according to the EPA, amounted to 33 million tons CO2e100 [CO2e100] of methane to atmosphere, or 61,951,520 MMBTU of methane per year—and that's only data from active underground mines that are required to report emissions.

Sustainable Job Growth
  • Supports new capital investments in mine methane capture
  • Creates thousands of American jobs in communities hit the hardest by the energy transition
  • Helps displaced workers reenter the workforce with good-paying jobs
Reducing Greenhouse
Gas Emissions

Capturing mine methane will help reduce the methane emitted to atmosphere from active underground mines, which, according to the EPA, amounted to 33 million tons CO2e100 [CO2e100] of methane to atmosphere, or 61,951,520 MMBTU of methane per year.

that’s equivalent to:
0
Average driving miles
in a passenger car
0
Gallons of gasoline consumed
0
Tree seedlings for ten years or 39,353,083 acres of U.S. forests for one year
Sustainable Job Growth
  • Supports new capital investments in mine methane capture
  • Creates thousands of American jobs in communities hit the hardest by the energy transition
  • Helps displaced workers reenter the workforce with good-paying jobs