WestVAMP
WestVAMP
Illawarra Coal’s $30 million WestVAMP power plant made its mark within just a couple of months of its official opening by NSW Premier, Morris Iemma, in September 2007.
The world-first power plant generates electricity using the extremely dilute methane gas found in mine ventilation air.
In its first six months of operation the plant – located at West Cliff coal mine - destroyed 125,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent (CO2e) and exported 20 gigawatt hours of electricity to West Cliff Mine.
And as if this wasn’t impressive enough, the new plant was also named the winner of the Australian Institute of Energy’s Excellence in Energy Award 2007.
Former NSW Premier Morris Iemma with President Col Bloomfield at the official opening.
WestVAMP is expected to reduce Illawarra Coal’s greenhouse gas emissions by 250,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent each year, the equivalent of eliminating emissions from 45,000 cars each year.
History
WestVAMP’s new technology was first piloted at Illawarra Coal's Appin Mine in 2001.
Illawarra Coal spent seven years collaborating with MEGTEC Systems AB, which provided WestVAMP with the VOCIDIZER technology which merges two conventional technologies – emission control technology and a steam cycle power plant. It’s the first time that the technology has been used commercially anywhere in the world.
The Australian Government contributed up to A$6 million to the project through the Greenhouse Gas Abatement Programme.
On site on opening day, Mr Iemma said the facility would make a significant contribution to greenhouse gas reduction in NSW and applauded the ingenuity of BHP Billiton Illawarra Coal and MEGTEC Systems AB.
Illawarra Coal is committed to sustainable mining practices and has made substantial capital investment in this area.
We have set extremely challenging targets in our business strategy and plan including no increase in greenhouse gas emissions or fresh water use over the next five years from a baseline of 2005-06.
We are committed to these targets even if we increase production. Our investment in WestVAMP demonstrates our proactive approach to climate change and has tremendous application for the underground coal mining industry right around the world.
With a comparatively small footprint, the plant could potentially be modularised and upsized for greater commercial attractiveness.
Statistics
WestVAMP will utilise 20 per cent of West Cliff's available mine ventilation air to achieve a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions of 250,000 tonnes CO2-e per year. This is equivalent to removing emissions from 45,000 cars from the environment each year.
On top of cutting methane emissions, the project will generate 5 Mega Watts of electricity from the steam turbine which will be a source of energy to be used within the West Cliff Colliery.
