Moranbah North

EDL owns and operates the 67MW Moranbah North Power Station, which captures and combusts waste coal mine gas and converts it to electricity for the national electricity market.

At a glance

  • Project name:

    Moranbah North Power Station

  • Owner, operator:

    EDL

  • Start of operation:

    2008

  • Location:

    Moranbah, Central Queensland, Australia

  • Generating capacity:
    67 MW
  • Primary fuel:

    WCMG

  • Electricity generated:

    ~400 GWh p.a.

  • Equivalent homes powered:

    ~70,000 p.a.

  • Avoided emissions:

    ~313,000 tonnes CO2–e p.a.

  • Equivalent cars off the road:

    ~100,000 p.a.

  • *Data sourced from:

    CY23

About the WCMG power station

EDL pioneered the process of capturing and converting waste coal mine gas (WCMG) generated during coal mining in Australia.

WCMG is produced during coal mining as methane gas trapped in coal seams is released. As this product can be a safety hazard and a challenge to mining operations, it is extracted by mine ventilation and coal seam drainage. Historically a waste product that is vented or flared, the extracted methane is used by EDL as a power generation fuel—displacing grid electricity and delivering reliable, and affordable energy which significantly reduces greenhouse gas emissions.

The power station incorporates GE Jenbacher 620 3MW generator sets and began full scale operation in 2008, mostly displacing coal-fired generation.

Historically a waste product that is vented or flared, the extracted methane is used by EDL as a power generation fuel.