Assessment and data analysis of beneficial implementation of cogeneration modules at mining enterprises to minimize negative influence on the environment

This article analyses the negative influence on the environment exerted during coal mining and draining-out gases from coal deposits. A large quantity of side gases can be recycled into useful energy or warmth. Co-generation stations seem to be a perspective solution for recycling these wastes with minimal environmental casualties. This research describes and assesses an operation result based on the example of one co-generation station. The data for the analysis have been collected during two years. The data analysis reveals that during a two-year period of co-generation station maintenance, a mining enterprise has obtained benefits from CH4 utilization. The enterprise was able to cover its own peak power consumption (10 MW average) and even earn money delivering generated energy into the city network due to correct planning and efficient gas burning. Moreover, data analysis proves that integration of such cogeneration modules allows making networks with distributed generation (DG) sources more efficient and eco-friendlier because of utilization of side-gases from different technological processes even in small amounts