On behalf of Stadtwerke Herne AG, Emissions Trader ET is in charge of selling 50.000 tons of CO_2eq reduced from the HER-TEUTO mine gas project.

Information concerning the new mine gas project of Stadtwerke Herne AG

The History of the Teutoburgia mine

1858 Conferment of the field Teutoburgia
1911 Start of production (80.371 t/a)
1913 Peak of production (553.574 t/a)
1925 Closure of the Teutoburgia mine
1929 Unification of the Erin mine
1983 Join together with the Erin mine

Use of mine gas

Mine gas issues from abandoned mines for a long time after the closure of the mine. Mine gas consists mainly of methane which is 21 times more harmful to the climate than carbon dioxide. By reducing the mine gas in a thermal power station, methane is transformed to the less harmful carbon dioxide, which is far less damaging than methane. By transforming 1 ton of methane, the emissions are reduced by 18,25 tons of CO_2eq.

The project

On the grounds of the Teutoburgia mine a borehole is being sunk in an abandoned mining track. The mine gas exhausted from the bore hole is energetically used in a 2 MW thermal power station. Without the project the mine gas would escape into the atmosphere. The project contributes to emissions reductions of approximately 70.000 tons of CO_2eq. 83% are apportioned to avoidance of methane, 15% to the ousting of conventionally produced electricity, and 2% to the ousting of conventionally produced heat.

Emissions trading

The emissions can be certified and internationally traded. The Federal Ministry of the environment, nature conservancy and reactor safety has confirmed the suitability of mine gas projects as projects of emissions reduction according to the Kyoto protocol. The emissions can be traded now.