In addition to methane, hydromethanation produces a high-purity stream of CO₂, an odorless, colorless greenhouse gas (GHG) that contributes to global warming. The unique purity of this CO₂ stream allows for it to be readily captured and prevented from entering the atmosphere using a process called sequestration. The CO₂ can be injected into underground oil reserves through a process called enhanced oil recovery (EOR), or geologically sequestered in depleted oil and gas fields or in saline aquifers.

An analysis of the GHG footprint of natural gas derived from multiple sources tells a very compelling story.

When bluegas™ natural gas is used to fuel a natural gas-fired combined-cycle power plant:

• It results in a GHG level that is 60% lower than the emissions level from a similarly sized coal-fired power plant; and
• It also results in a GHG level that is lower than fueling that same plant with conventional drilled or imported natural gas. This is due to the fact that the conventional production of drilled natural gas has a higher GHG footprint resulting from methane leakage and gas processing compared to the mining and transportation of coal.

This analysis demonstrates that GreatPoint Energy has the ability to combine the minimal carbon footprint of coal production with the low emissions of natural gas-based power generation to produce a commercial fuel with a lower overall GHG footprint than either domestically drilled natural gas or imported LNG.

Pre-Combustion Advantage: CO2-equivalent emissions from natural gas supply chain are ~25% of total emissions, compared to 6% for coal

• Methane leakage has a global warming potential 21x that of CO2, creating significant impact from natural gas production and transportation
• The global incremental supply of natural gas via LNG has added emissions for liquefaction, tanker transport and regasification

Post-Combustion Advantage: CO2-equivalent emissions from natural gas combustion are 60% less than those from coal-fired emissions

In addition, the increased supply of natural gas for power generation at competitive pricing will accelerate the reduction of existing coal-fired generation and help eliminate the need for future coal-burning power plants, further having a positive impact on GHG emissions levels.