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Global News

France's Hidden Treasure: The Groundbreaking Find that Could Transform Energy

A groundbreaking discovery in Northern France has the potential to ignite a renewable revolution in an unexpected place. A French shale gas company has unearthed a massive reserve of clean hydrogen gas, offering a glimmer of hope for regions heavily reliant on coal. The discovery was made by Jacques Pironon and Phillipe De Donato, directors of research at France's National Centre of Scientific Research, during an assessment of methane stores in the Lorraine Basin. Surprisingly, they stumbled upon a previously unknown hydrogen gas deposit located 3,300 feet underground. The readings showed a hydrogen concentration of 20%, surpassing all expectations. Hydrogen, when extracted and burned, produces only water as a direct emission, making it an attractive alternative to fossil fuels. While green hydrogen, produced through electrolysis and powered by renewable energy, remains a small-scale and expensive solution, the newfound deposit offers a different proposition. Termed "white" or "gold" hydrogen, this geologic hydrogen could revolutionize heavy machinery and long-distance transportation. The hydrogen deposit in Mali, which powers an entire village, boasts a purity of 98%, setting a remarkable precedent. Experts estimate that there are tens of billions of tons of extractable white hydrogen worldwide, potentially offering a sustainable energy source for hundreds of years. In France's Lorraine Basin, plans are underway to assess the extent of the deposit's potential. Energy company La Française de l'Énergie (FDE) is collaborating with researchers to evaluate the viability of extracting white hydrogen from existing shale gas wells.

5 Nov 2023
Global News

Abandoned Coal Mine Transforms into Green Energy Source, Heating Town with Warm Water

An old coal mine in Gateshead, UK, has undergone a remarkable transformation, becoming a sustainable source of green energy that has been successfully heating the town for the past six months. The innovative project, initiated by Gateshead Council in March 2023, utilizes the abundance of warm mine water present in the abandoned coal mining tunnels. Flooded with water that gets naturally heated by the Earth's core, the mine now serves as a semi-naturally occurring geothermal energy source. With a large central heat pump in place, the mine water is pumped into home heat pumps, further raising its temperature. This super-hot water is then used to provide low-carbon heating to 350 high-rise buildings, an art gallery, a college, an industrial park, and several office buildings. The system also offers the advantage of using the heated water to cool homes, making it a versatile solution. Unlike traditional heating methods, the mine water remains unaffected by seasonal variations, ensuring a reliable supply of warmth throughout the year. Moreover, after the heat is utilized, the water is naturally reheated as it returns to the mine, creating a sustainable cycle. Gareth Farr, head of heat and by-product innovation at the Coal Authority, expressed excitement about this environmentally friendly approach, stating that "recovering heat from mine water below the ground within abandoned coal mines provides an exciting opportunity to generate a low carbon, secure supply of heat." This project in Gateshead is the largest of its kind in Europe, joining similar initiatives in The Netherlands, Spain, and Canada. It demonstrates the potential for abandoned coal mines to be transformed into sustainable energy sources, offering a positive step towards a greener and more sustainable future.

28 Oct 2023
Global News

Good News

Powering India's Growth: Gevra Coal Mine Sets Record as India's Largest Producer With 50 Million Ton Output

Chhattisgarh's Gevra coal mine has become the first mine in India to produce 50 million tons of coal in a single year. The mine is operated by SECL, a subsidiary of Coal India Limited, and is one of the largest coal mines in the world. The achievement is a significant milestone for the Indian coal industry and is expected to help meet the growing demand for energy in the country. India is one of the world's largest consumers of coal, and coal-fired power plants account for around 70% of the country's electricity generation. The Gevra mine, which began operations in 1981, has steadily increased its production over the years, with a record output of 50.3 million tons in the 2022-2023 fiscal year. The mine has a capacity of 35 million tons per year and employs over 5,000 people. The success of the Gevra mine is a testament to the hard work and dedication of the mine's employees and to the Indian coal industry as a whole. It is also a reflection of the country's commitment to meeting its energy needs through domestic sources, despite growing concerns about the environmental impact of coal use. As India continues to develop and modernize, the demand for energy is only expected to increase. The Gevra mine's achievement is a reminder of the importance of investing in domestic energy sources and finding sustainable solutions for meeting the country's energy needs.

23 Mar 2023
Good News

Positive Reads

Coal Miner’s Day: A tribute to men in India’s most dangerous profession

We all are happy when our workday is over and we eagerly go home to our families. It never occurs to us that there may be any danger in doing our day’s work, as most of us are engaged in safe professions. Barring some extraordinary occurrences, we all generally return to our home after work. But, there are some professions wherein there is no such guarantee. Coal Mining is one of these professions. It is known to be India’s, most dangerous profession. Coal Miners are the men who know that they may not return home after the day’s work is over, still they walk to the coal mines and lower themselves into the labyrinthine depths as a routine. Coal mining is done to extract coal from the ground. Coal is important for its energy content. Coal is being  used for generating electricity. Further, various industries like steel and cement utilise coal as a fuel to extract iron from iron ore and also for production of cement. As per a report published in June 2016 in ieBussiness, there was a fatal  accident every ten days where a miner lost his life. Though fatalities in 2015 were far less than 1975, still the rate was about 50 deaths for the 12 months. These were mostly caused due to accidents by roof falls and the collapse of the side walls of the coal mine. India operates about 569 coal mines, apart from 1,770 non-coal mines and  67 oil and gas mines, as of 2016. There are various small mines, too. All of these mines produce about 89 types of different mineral. These employ more than 1 million workers on a daily basis. The mining  sector contributes about 5 per cent to India’s gross domestic product. In India, safety in mine is regulated by the Office of Directorate General of Mines Safety, Ministry of Labour and Employment. These evaluate the safety measures adopted in the state run mines. The employees of state-owned coal mines are governed by the same  safety rules as those of Air India or other agencies. But still, compensation rates in case of accidents are lower and it is only about Rs 10 lakh for injuries or death. Further, miners are subjected to the hazards like humidity, heat, dust, and noise, which adversely affect their health. On this Coal Miner’s Day, let’s all realise that behind every ray of electricity light, there is someone risking his life for us to go deep in mines to extract coal for thermal power and many other facilities we take granted as a matter of routine.    

3 May 2017
Positive Reads

Global Inspirations

The UK observes first coal free day since Industrial Revolution

The UK sets an example to the world when it celebrated its first coal free day since the Industrial Revolution. It went one full day without using coal to generate electricity. According to the National Grid, around half of British energy on Friday came from natural gas, with about a quarter coming from nuclear plants. They also made use of wind, biomass, and imported energy. Until now,  the UK's longest continuous energy period without coal was 19 hours which was first achieved in May, last year. Its government seriously wishes to cut carbon emissions and plans to phase out all its coal plants by 2025. The world's first centralised public coal-fired generator opened in 1882, at Holborn Viaduct in London and it was only on Friday, that for the first time, the nation didn't use coal to generate electricity. Cordi O'Hara of national Grid said that the UK benefits from highly diverse and flexible sources of electricity and that their energy mix continues to change and National Grid adapts system operation to embrace these changes. The nation brought to an end centuries of deep coal mining when it shut down its last deep coal mine, Kellingley Colliery in North Yorkshire in December 2015.   .

24 Apr 2017
Global Inspirations

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