Business Diversification of Coal Mining Enterprises Based on the Development of Coal Mine Methane Utilization Infrastructure

There are various ways of coal mine methane utilization, but in the study have been considered two related concepts: the "Coal – Gas – Electricity" concept, with the production of electrical energy at the output; and the "Coal – Energy – Information" concept, which implies the use of coal mine methane for energy supply of data processing centers with necessary energy resources (electricity, heat and cooling), in doing so industrial site of coal mines would be used as place for construction of data processing centers. Within the framework of the study 3 options of coal mine methane utilization were considered: the use of gas genset for generation of electrical and thermal energy (cogeneration); the use of gas genset and absorption refrigerator for energy supply of data processing centers (electricity, heat and cooling), constructed on the industrial site of coal mines (trigeneration); the use of absorption refrigerator (with direct burning of coal mine methane) for cooling of IT-equipment of constructed data processing centers. In conclusion, it is noted that proposed concept is in close correlation with a Long-term program for the development of the coal industry to 2030, since allows to create the base for the implementation of innovative technologies based on digital platforms that ensure the development of coal mining technology without the constant presence of personnel in underground mining workings.