Clean Energy Capability Portfolio | Clean Fuels |
Enhanced Gas Production from Coal
Seams by Methanogens
NSW and Queensland host an estimated 235 trillion cubic feet of coal seam gas resources ( an emerging global low carbon emission energy ), the majority of these resources being biological in origin . Direct electron transfer to methanogenic archaea , native to major coal seams has been shown to boost biological methane production . Other abundant organic feedstocks like biosolids from wastewater , agricultural waste and food waste , can also be digested to produce biogas . |
Competitive Advantage • Synthetic phenazine crystals have been found to facilitate direct electron transfer to methanogenic archaea to enhance methane production by an order of magnitude representing a positive shift in increasing methane production . Leveraging a deep understanding of the microbiology and biochemistry of biogas production , we can develop enhancement strategies and troubleshoot underperformance of anaerobic digestion systems .
Impact • Enhancing biogas production in-situ in real-time helps sustain coal seam gas production at its current level . It represents a solution to reduce the environmental impact of the industry and increase profit margins by reducing infrastructure expenditure . Anaerobic digestion converts waste-toenergy , thereby lowering operational costs .
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• Culture collection of methane producing microorganisms
• Biomethane potential testing expertise and equipment
• Expertise in feedstock pretreatment for anaerobic digestion
• Expertise in electron shuttle-based biogas enhancement
Our Collaborators • Biogas Energy
• Earthpower
• ONGC India
More Information Professor Michael Manefield
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School of Civil and Environmental Engineering |
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Successful Applications |
T : + 61 2 9385 5355 |
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• Lithgow coal seam ( NSW ) |
E : manefield @ unsw . edu . au |
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• Jahria Coal Seam ( Jharkhand , India ) |
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• Earthpower food waste digestion facility ( NSW ) |
Professor Sheikh Rahman |
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School of Minerals and Energy Resources Engineering |
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Capabilities and Facilities |
T : + 61 2 9385 5659 |
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• Microbial community analysis of biogas producing biomass |
E : shaik . rahman @ unsw . edu . au |
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• Anaerobic cultivation of methanogenic archaea producing biogas |
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