Solid Energy has successfully started up its NZ$22 million Underground Coal Gasification Pilot Plant near Huntlyinthe Waikato.The plant is now producing synthetic gasfrom coal. The company believes it is the first in the world to access energy from a single coalfield using four different technologies: underground mining, opencast mining,coal seam gas (CSG) and underground coal gasification (UCG). UCG can access energy from deep coal seams that are uneconomic using conventional mining technology and, compared to conventional mining, has significantly reduced environmental impacts and safety risks. While UCG was first developed 70 years ago, only three locations in the world are currently producing synthetic gas, also known as syngas, from UCG. Syngas can be used to generate electricity or be converted into high-value products like fertiliser, plastics, methanol, waxes and detergents.

UCG is one of a suite of energy technologies being developed and commercialised by Solid Energy.The company is already producing wood pellets, biofuels and CSG and its lignite briquetting plant in Mataura is nearing the end of construction.

“Our Huntly UCG pilot plant is designed to give us the geological, process and environmental data we need for commercial UCG plant design”,says Solid Energy Chief Executive Officer, Dr Don Elder.  “The immediate focus of the pilot is to stabilise initial syngas output, before increasing production to planned levels.

“Solid Energy has access to around 2 billion tonnes of coal in the Huntly Coal Field.  Most is too deep to be economic using conventional mining.  UCG can potentially allow us to access most of this, which represents 10 times the energy of the Māui gas field.

“That amount of gas would help provide energy security on the doorstep of New Zealand’s largest population centre, and could also be used to produce affordable, environmentally acceptable,high-value products,” Eldersays.We are considering future options for commercial UCG plants both in New Zealand and overseas.”