A part of the Regalor team visited the Gazonor abandoned mine methane exploitation, subsidiary of La Française de l’Énergie. Located in Avion, in northern France, the exploitation site produces gas and electricity for the national network.

Abandoned mine methane

Like coalbed methane (CBM), abandoned mine methane is constituted of the same gas. But it is naturally present in disused coal mine drifts. 

A pump extracts the gas from the galleries. It is then compressed, dried and odorized… it can now be injected in the domestic gas network. 

Gazonor also produces electricity from methane thanks to cogenerators. Principe is simple: gas is sent in a “motor” which creates mechanic energy then converted in electricity and thermic energy?