Grosvenor Waste Coal Mine Gas Power Station

The Grosvenor Waste Coal Mine Gas Power Station is a Coal Mine Waste Gas (CMWG) project located at the Grosvenor Mine, approximately 5km north of the town of Moranbah in Central Queensland's Bowen Basin. Registered in August 2015, the project involves the installation and operation of electricity production devices designed to capture methane from the underground coal mine, a byproduct that would otherwise be vented into the atmosphere, and convert it into electricity.

Projects under the Coal Mine Waste Gas methodology reduce greenhouse gas emissions by intercepting methane, a potent greenhouse gas, and combusting it. This process converts the methane into less harmful carbon dioxide while generating useful energy. This specific project not only destroys the waste gas but also acts as a displacement activity, feeding power into the grid or mine site to replace electricity that would otherwise be drawn from more carbon-intensive sources. The facility comprises the 21MW Grosvenor 1 and the 15MW Grosvenor 2 power stations, utilizing substantial capacity to mitigate emissions.

The Moranbah region is characterized by a semi-arid to sub-tropical climate with an average annual rainfall of approximately 600mm, heavily weighted towards the summer months. The surrounding landscape supports cattle grazing and mining operations, featuring fertile cracking clay soils (Vertosols) typical of the Brigalow Belt. These heavy clay soils are known for their ability to retain water but can become difficult to manage during the region's intense summer storms.

An interesting aspect of this project is its resilience and adaptation to the operational challenges of the mine. The power station is operated by EDL Projects and is integrated with Anglo American's Grosvenor mine. Notably, the mine experienced a significant underground gas ignition event in June 2024, which halted mining operations and required a complex re-entry process, highlighting the volatility of the gas resources this project manages. The carbon project itself has been active for over a decade, with its initial government abatement contract (CAC102147) successfully completed in 2024, and the project methodology recently updated in March 2025 to ensure continued compliance with the latest standards.