Developing basin-specific emission factors for accurate methane inventory and emission reduction strategies in Zonguldak Coal Basin, Turkey: Implications for enhancing safety and sustainability

This study develops basin-specific emission factors using historical coal production and methane emissions data to enhance methane inventories and emission reduction strategies in Turkey's Zonguldak Coal Basin. The basin is known for high levels of coal mine methane (CMM) emissions, posing a serious safety hazard to miners and affecting mine productivity. However, limited data on in-situ parameters related to Coal Mine Methane (CMM) emissions have been available. The study analyzes historical trends in CMM emissions (1980–2020) from the basin's underground coal mines, revealing declining emissions alongside coal production. Over this period, approximately 2.28 billion cubic meters of CMM were released. Continued historical coal production rates suggest a significant 6.63 MWe power generation potential. The investigation into coal production, average mining depth, and coal seam gas content reveal that CMM emissions primarily depend on coal production and mining depth. Utilizing available methane mitigation technologies could prevent an estimated 55.7 million tons of methane annually (equivalent to around 692,000 tons of CO₂e). Importantly, the study calculates basin-specific emission factors (ranging from 7.24 m³/t to 21.66 m³/t) based on historical measurements, providing a more accurate regional representation than the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) default values. These factors are vital for identifying high-emission areas and guiding emission reduction strategy development. This study addresses a critical data gap in Turkey's estimation of methane emissions from underground coal mining, particularly in the Zonguldak coal basin. It establishes a foundation for future research on methane emissions from coal mines at various scales, contributing to improved understanding, emissions mitigation, safety enhancement, and sustainable coal mining practices.