Innovative project - Selby coalfield still producing energy!

Following the first phase of workings on the Selby mine, when it became uneconomic to continue developing the mine for its original purpose of coal extraction, UK Coal invested in the construction  of a power generation unit on the Stillingfleet site. As ground water gradually rises in the old drift mine workings, the methane emerging from the coal seams is forced to the top of the original man-riding shaft where it is captured and burnt for electricity generation. This facility is now owned by private equity group Capital Dynamics Clean Energy which has investments in similar generating facilities at Kellingley, Thoresby and Harworth providing a total of 26 Megawatts exported to the grid from 14 gas engines.

This is seen as a beneficial use of a potent greenhouse gas which would otherwise be discharged to atmosphere or flared off. It also makes use of some of the built assets on the old mine site, and uses the pre-existing electrical connections to the grid. The operation is unobtrusive: very little traffic is generated and negligible noise and light and smell pollution is evident.

The Stillingfleet site currently has planning permission to continue this activity until 2024, when the economics will be re-assessed based on the rate of recovery of methane at that time.