Sydney University associate professor Andrew Harris’s research group is negotiating a trial with an industry partner, believed to be a global miner with coal mines in the Hunter Valley where methane is a safety and environmental hazard.

The methane burner would substantially reduce the coal mining industry’s greenhouse gas liability, should emissions trading take effect. It burns methane, converting it into the less harmful carbon dioxide and water before releasing it into the atmosphere, Harris said.

Methane, a combustible hydrocarbon, is generally kept below 5% in underground mining environments by ventilating shafts and releasing the gas into the atmosphere.

“This reduces the risk of explosions but significantly increases greenhouse gas levels. Methane is about 23 times more potent than carbon dioxide in terms of its contribution to global warming,” Harris said.

“Our burner uses porous combustion media allowing for ultra lean combustion that transforms methane into carbon dioxide and water at concentrations much lower than a traditional burner.

“This process can immediately reduce greenhouse gas emissions from underground coal mines by 87 per cent, providing an effective short-term solution for an industry seeking to reduce its footprint.”

The process of mining coal accounts for about 6% of methane emissions caused by human activity.

A full-scale version of the burner – which is 3m high and weighs about a tonne – has been built onsite at the university and trialled by Harris and others in his Laboratory for Sustainable Technology.

The project was funded by the Australian Coal Association Research Program (ACARP) and the New South Wales government’s Climate Change Fund.