Methane Utilization Research Articles

State-of the-Art Constraint-Based Modeling of Microbial Metabolism: From Basics to Context-Specific Models with a Focus on Methanotrophs.

Methanotrophy is the ability of an organism to capture and utilize the greenhouse gas, methane, as a source of energy-rich carbon. Over the years, significant progress has been made in understanding of mechanisms for methane utilization, mostly in bacterial systems, including the key metabolic pathways, regulation and the impact of various factors (iron, copper, calcium, lanthanum, and tungsten) on cell growth and methane bioconversion. The implementation of -omics approaches provided vast amount of heterogeneous data that require the adaptation or development of computational tools for a system-wide interrogative analysis of methanotrophy. The genome-scale mathematical modeling of its metabolism has been envisioned as one of the most productive strategies for the integration of muti-scale data to better understand methane metabolism and enable its biotechnological implementation. Herein, we provide an overview of various computational strategies implemented for methanotrophic systems. We highlight functional capabilities as well as limitations of the most popular web resources for the reconstruction, modification and optimization of the genome-scale metabolic models for methane-utilizing bacteria.

Engineered Methylococcus capsulatus Bath for efficient methane conversion to isoprene

Isoprene has numerous industrial applications, including rubber polymer and potential biofuel. Microbial methane-based isoprene production could be a cost-effective and environmentally benign process, owing to a reduced carbon footprint and economical utilization of methane. In this study, Methylococcus capsulatus Bath was engineered to produce isoprene from methane by introducing the exogenous mevalonate (MVA) pathway. Overexpression of MVA pathway enzymes and isoprene synthase from Populus trichocarpa under the control of a phenol-inducible promoter substantially improved isoprene production. M. capsulatus Bath was further engineered using a CRISPR-base editor to disrupt the expression of soluble methane monooxygenase (sMMO), which oxidizes isoprene to cause toxicity. Additionally, optimization of the metabolic flux in the MVA pathway and culture conditions increased isoprene production to 228.1 mg/L, the highest known titer for methanotroph-based isoprene production. The developed methanotroph could facilitate the efficient conversion of methane to isoprene, resulting in the sustainable production of value-added chemicals.

Recent Advances in the Conversion of Methane to Syngas and Chemicals via Photocatalysis

AbstractAs a primary constituent of natural gas and shale gas, direct conversion of methane has attracted significant attention due to its potential to reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions. Compared with thermal catalysis, photocatalysis has the capacity to transcend thermodynamic constraint and enable the conversion of sustainable solar energy into chemical energy under mild reaction condition, which contributes to optimize the utilization of methane. In this review, we undertake a comparative analysis of various strategies for photocatalytic methane conversion to syngas and chemicals, including photocatalytic reforming of methane, photocatalytic partial oxidation of methane and photocatalytic coupling of methane. The distinct reaction systems with corresponding catalysts and underlying mechanisms are expounded in detail to foster a profound comprehension of solar‐driven methane conversion. Finally, the challenges and prospectives in photocatalytic methane conversion are discussed.

A new approach to producing a prospective energy resource based on coalmine methane

The paper describes topical issues of a prospective method for coalmine methane utilization for obtaining an additional valuable energy resource for the regional development of coal-mining areas. It is noted that the development of the extraction of methane resources is very urgent and is of great economic importance for ensuring the energy independence of Ukraine. The experience and technologies of using methane and coalmine gas by global coal-mining companies are analyzed. Modern prospects and opportunities for using coal gas are studied. There is a need to transform the coalmine methane removal system and directions for maximizing the use of its resources in a wide range of concentrations in the composition of gas-air mixtures based on the development of innovative technologies to improve the efficiency and cost-effectiveness of functioning coal-mining enterprises. Attention is focused on the advantages of using gas hydrate technologies for obtaining additional energy resource under conditions of changing coalmine methane concentrations. The specifics of the process of mixed gas hydrate formation from gas mixtures of various geneses have been studied. It has been revealed that it is the coalmine gas-methane composition that determines and forms the basic condition for hydrate formation. The thermobaric conditions for the hydrate formation process at different methane concentrations in gas mixtures of degassing systems have been experimentally determined. The results obtained are the basis for further research on efficiency of creating gas hydrates from coalmine methane and determining its minimum permissible concentration in the gas mixture of degassing systems according to the technological and economic criteria of hydrate formation.

Система совместного использования обедненного метана угольных пластов и биогаза для выработки электроэнергии в угольных шахтах

Purpose: Justification and development of new resource-saving technologies aimed at utilization of coal bed methane. The problem of low efficiency of utilization of lean methane-air mixtures is primarily due to the low content of methane itself, which varies significantly depending on the type of coal or concentration. This paper discusses the concept of a co-production system that mixes low-methane methane-air mixtures and biogas to generate power. Methods: Analysis of the possible volumes of utilized methane, biogas requirements and the suitability of the primary feedstock for co-generation of heat and electricity. Selection of appropriate parameters for the processes of utilization of mine methane. Analysis of the merits of the proposed method of utilization of lean coal mine methane. Results: It is recommended that biogas produced by agriculture and forestry in the vicinity of the mines be added to the dry methane stream to obtain the necessary gas concentration for electricity generation. Potential electricity production and greenhouse gas emission reductions have also been evaluated. The result shows that the co-production system can significantly improve the efficiency of poor methane-air mixtures in coal mines. Practical significance: The joint use of lean methane and biogas from straw offers practical advantages both economically, ensuring sufficient energy supply in mines, and as a foundation for broad future prospects. It allows for energy cost reduction and environmental pollution reduction, such as decreasing carbon dioxide emissions.

Methane-assisted selective bio-oil deoxygenation for high-quality renewable fuel production: A rational catalyst design and mechanistic study

Methane is the main component of naturally abundant natural gas resources and is under-utilized. Bio-oil is a promising energy source with lower economic and environmental costs compared to fossil fuels. However, pyrolysis-derived bio-oil obtained from lipid sources is hindered by high oxygen content and unsaturated species. In this work, an Ir-Ga-Ce/TiO2-A catalyst is theorized and subsequently tailored to optimize deoxygenation product oil quality. After synthesis, 2-hexyl-1-decanol is employed as a model compound to understand the mechanism of deoxygenation under different atmospheres and rationalize the assistance of methane compared to inerts. It is found that methane significantly facilitates the deoxygenation and chain growth reactions by direct incorporation into the paraffinic and naphthenic liquid-phase products. In the gas-phase products, isotopic labeling studies reveal that methane is directly involved with deoxygenation as a major contributor to CO2, and potentially CO. The role of each catalyst component (Ir, Ga, Ce, and TiO2-A) is elucidated, resulting in a sophisticated network tailored for deoxygenation of alcohols with the assistance of methane. The Ir-Ga-Ce/TiO2-A catalyst is then subject to testing on a real pyrolysis-derived bio-oil and shows 84.7% deoxygenation, 0.07% water content by weight, 0.2 (mg KOH g−1) TAN and greater than 1.5% methane conversion, while maintaining the product oil’s structural integrity as a renewable fuel. This work illustrates the potential of a methane-assisted deoxygenation process and explains multiple roles methane can play in achieving better reaction performance and product quality. The effective utilization of methane for bio-oil deoxygenation demonstrates unique benefits for the natural gas and fatty waste industries.

Scenarios for Hydrogen Production from a Full-Scale Reversible Solid Oxide System with Electrolyte-Supported Stacks

Reversible solid oxide cell technology is of increasing interest and is emerging as a promising grid-flexible support system [1] with storage [2]. Among the types of cell architecture available, electrolyte-supported cells have proven to be better in terms of long-term stability and degradation of the cell, albeit sacrificing on performance as compared to anode-supported cells [3]. This makes electrolyte-supported cells better suited architecture to be used in reversible systems where higher stability is required due to the changing operating conditions in each mode. In the present work, validated cell and stack models of Nexceris electrolyte-supported cells are used to model a full-scale reversible solid oxide system designed for hydrogen production.EIS data from symmetric button cells and polarization curves from 5cm×5cm full cells are used to validate the stack model. A net 100 kWe system in fuel cell mode is modelled with electrolyte-supported stacks from Nexceris operating at a nominal temperature of 800 oC. The system is run at thermoneutral conditions in electrolysis mode and at 0.5 A/cm2 in fuel cell mode to balance between efficiency and hydrogen production. The levelized cost of hydrogen production is calculated using a price-taker model with the system pumping the produced hydrogen into a natural gas/hydrogen pipeline. The effect of various parameters, such as the capacity factor of the system, the operating pressure, grid-electricity pricing, etc. - are investigated on the levelized cost of hydrogen.[1] Guenther Glenk and Stefan Reichelstein, “Reversible Power-to-Gas systems for energy conversion and storage”, Nature Communications 13, 2010 (2022).[2] Evan Reznicek and Robert J. Braun, “Techno-economic and off-design analysis of stand-alone, distributed-scale reversible solid oxide cell energy storage systems”, Energy Conversion and Management 175, 2018.[3] Marco A. Buccheri, Anand Singh, and Josephine M. Hill, “Anode- versus electrolyte-supported Ni-YSZ/YSZ/Pt SOFCs: Effect of cell design on OCV, performance and carbon formation for the direct utilization of dry methane”, Journal of Power Sources 196, 2011. Figure 1

Anaerobic Fluidized Bed Reactor for the Treatment of Tannery Wastewater Using Crushed Tire Scraps as Support Material

Purpose: Due to tannery high pollution potential, is has become necessary to investigate in new treatment technologies that use recycled solid wastes as tires that are abundantly present in the environment. The application of anaerobic biological processes offers several advantages compared to aerobic processes, including lower energy consumption, reduced sludge production, and a smaller footprint, in addition to the potential utilization of methane as a fuel. Methods: A pilot scale anaerobic fluidized bed reactor was implemented, using crushed tire scraps with diameters ranging from 2.00 mm to 2.83 mm as support material. Results and conclusion: The maximum COD removal efficiency achieved in the system was 77.79% in the first stage and 92.9% in the second stage, while methane production reached 2,930.5 mL. The tire scraps demonstrated efficiency as a support material for biofilm development, with microbial biofilm growth observed through optical microscopy, showing morphologies similar to cocci. Research implications: The implications of this study are to verify the possibility of treatment of tannery wastewater along with the possibility of reuse of an environmental pollutant as tire residues. Originality/value: After the literature research, no study has focused in anaerobic fluidized bed reactors using tire scraps as a support media for the treatment of tannery wastewater.

Experimental study on the effect of magma intrusion and temperature on the pore structure of coal

The rich and intricate pore structure that coal possesses has a big impact on CBM engineering. We characterized the pore structure of coal samples at various distances from the magma intrusion point and at various temperatures using MIP, low-temperature nitrogen adsorption, and low-temperature carbon dioxide adsorption to study the thermal effect of temperature and magma intrusion on the pore structure of coal seams to better understand the properties of coal affected by temperature and thermal effect of magma. The results of the study prove that there are similar and different pore structures of coal samples at different distances from the magma intrusion point and at different temperatures. Heating and magma thermal effects have similar effects on coal samples in macroporous and micropore stages. The pore volume of coal samples increased with increased temperature or magma intrusion effect in the macroporous stage but decreased with increased temperature or magma intrusion effect in the microporous stage, with the magma thermal effect being more pronounced. While in the medium pore stage, the pore volume of coal samples increases and then decreases with the enhancement of magmatic intrusion influence, but the trend of decreasing development with the increase of temperature. This result makes a theoretical contribution to the selection of coal-bed methane utilization technology in the magmatic rock-influenced region.

Experimental identification of the impact of direct internal and external methane reforming on SOFC by detailed online monitoring and supporting measurements

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) are able to use biogas or natural gas with its main compound methane as fuel but utilization of methane bears risks which can lead to early performance loss. Application of a suitable type of methane reforming as well as online monitoring tools and a holistic knowledge about possible degradation mechanisms can limit degradation rates. Here, we compare direct internal reforming and external methane reforming on a large planar SOFC with an active area of 80cm2 at different operating temperatures and methane flow rates. To do so, the measured temperature distribution, applied electrochemical impedance spectroscopy and its advanced tool distribution of relaxation times (DRT) as well as results from post mortem microscopic analysis are used. We observed that the ohmic resistance and high frequency peaks in the DRT spectra seem to be influenced not only by the average cell temperature but also by direct internal reforming (DIR) conditions. Furthermore, we observed that high temperature gradients induced by DIR could lead to or accelerate damages of the cells structure and the sealing. The results presented in this work are useful to control or manage safe SOFC operation with C containing fuels for real world SOFC applications.

Material and Performance Optimisation for Syngas Preparation Using Artificial Intelligence (AI)-Based Machine Learning (ML)

Working towards a more sustainable future with zero emissions, the International Future Laboratory for Hydrogen Economy at the Technical University of Munich (TUM) exhibits concerted efforts across various hydrogen technologies. The current research focuses on pre-reforming processes for high-quality reversible solid oxide cell feedstock preparation. An AI-based machine learning model has been developed, trained, and deployed to predict and optimise the controlled utilisation of methane gas. Using a blend of design of experiments and a validated 3D computational fluid dynamics model, pre-reforming process data have been generated for various syngas mixtures. The results of this study indicate that it is possible to achieve a targeted methane utilisation rate of 20% while decreasing the amount of catalyst material by 11%. Furthermore, it was found that precise process parameters could be determined efficiently and with minimal resource consumption in order to achieve higher methane fuel utilisation rates of 25% and 30%. The machine learning model has been effectively employed to analyse and optimise the fuel outlet conditions of the pre-reforming process, contributing to a better understanding of high-quality syngas preparation and furthering sustainable research efforts for a safe reversible solid oxide cell (r-SOC) process.

РОЗРОБКА АВТОНОМНОГО ЕНЕРГОЗАБЕЗПЕЧЕННЯ ПЕРЕСУВНОЇ ПОВЕРХНЕВОЇ ДЕГАЗАЦІЙНОЇ УСТАНОВКИ

Currently, in connection with the difficult situation with energy supply, issues related to the application of new measures to conserve energy resources as well as the introduction of new promising technologies using alternative energy sources, such as mined methane, have gained great importance. The problem of methane from coal deposits is of particular importance. This problem primarily concerns the safety of miners' work, methane production as an alternative source of energy resources, and solving environmental problems related to methane emissions into the atmosphere of coal mining enterprises. The problem of reducing the efficiency of degassing is caused by the long length of the degassing pond and the depth of cleaning operations. The use of a mobile surface degassing unit makes it possible to effectively carry out degassing and achieve significant volumes of extracted gas with a methane content of up to 80%, but high costs of electricity complicate its operation. Therefore, the paper proposes an autonomous power supply for a mobile surface degassing plant. For the autonomous power supply of a mobile surface degassing plant, it is advisable to use an electric generator since an uninterrupted supply of electricity is important. Gas power plants are widely used in industrial enterprises. In accordance with the power consumption of the electrical equipment of the mobile surface degassing plant, the work justified and selected a gas power plant and electric power equipment for the autonomous power supply of the mobile surface degassing plant. The gas-piston power plant is designed for the production of electrical energy and can be both the main and backup source. As a fuel, mainline natural gas with an average supply pressure or methane mine gas is used. The basic configuration of the power plant is a liquid-cooled gas-piston engine based on a diesel unit. A technological scheme for connecting the gas power plant to a mobile vacuum pumping unit and its power supply scheme has been developed, which will increase the safety of cleaning works, solve the issue of methane utilization, significantly reduce electricity costs, and improve the environmental situation in the industrial region.

Roles of titania and plasmonic gold nanoparticles of different sizes in photocatalytic methane coupling at room temperature

Methane, one of the most abundant molecules on Earth and a major greenhouse gas, comes from renewable and fossil resources. The utilization of methane as a starting material for synthesis of chemicals is attractive but encounters numerous challenges due to high thermodynamic stability and extreme inertness of methane. Most of methane reactions occur at high temperatures and coincide with major emissions of CO2. Semiconductor photocatalysis offers an efficient alternative for methane conversion at room temperature.In this paper, we studied the plasmonic gold nanoparticles (NPs) with size from 6 nm to 60 nm supported on titania semiconductor in methane nonoxidative and oxidative couplings and elucidated their roles in the reactions. Strikingly, an efficient oxidative coupling with ethane production of 819 μmol/g/h and a coupling selectivity up to 86% was achieved in a flow reactor under optimized conditions. The reaction proceeded through methane activation over oxygen vacancies on Ultraviolet-excited titania. Gold NPs played important roles in charge separation and provided sites for soft oxygen activation. The size of gold NPs was found to be not noticeably affecting methane coupling.

Improvement of the SOFC System by Anode Recirculation

Solid Oxide Fuel Cells (SOFCs) provides an efficient and clean pathway to generate electricity. In this study, two system configurations with anode off-gas recirculation are introduced, and corresponding process models are developed using MATLAB. The study examines the effects of two key parameters, namely system methane utilization and recirculation ratio, on system characteristics, based on the typical performance of a 30-cell stack. Suitable operating parameter ranges are selected for both system configurations, and their respective characteristics are compared. The results demonstrate that D#1 system configuration improves system fuel utilization from 76.6% to 83.0% without altering the operating conditions of the stack. D#2 system configuration achieves a fuel utilization of 88.6%. The results indicate the potential for further enhancing the electrical efficiency while maintaining the output power and operation stability. This study provides valuable insights for the design and parameter selection of practical systems in future research.

Methane-to-chemicals: a pathway to decarbonization.

The utilization of methane for chemical production, often considered as the future of petrochemistry, historically could not compete economically with conventional processes due to higher investment costs. Achieving sustainability and decarbonization of the downstream industry by integration with a methane-to-chemicals process may provide an opportunity to unlock the future for these technologies. Gas-to-chemicals is an efficient tool to boost the decarbonization potential of renewable energy. While the current implementation of carbon capture utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies is of great importance for industrial decarbonization, a shift to greener CO2-free processes and CO2 utilization from external sources for manufacturing valuable goods is highly preferred. This review outlines potential options for how a methane-to-chemicals process could support decarbonization of the downstream industry.

Deactivation Mechanism and Anti-Deactivation Measures of Metal Catalyst in the Dry Reforming of Methane: A Review

In recent decades, the massive emission of greenhouse gases, such as carbon dioxide and methane, into the atmosphere has had a serious impact on the ecological environment. The dry reforming of carbon dioxide and methane to syngas cannot only realize the resource utilization of methane and carbon dioxide but also reduce global climate change. It is of great significance in carbon emission reduction. Owing to the dry reforming of methane (DRM) being a strongly endothermic reaction, it needs to be carried out under high-temperature conditions. It makes the catalyst have problems of the sintering of metal, carbon deposition, and poisoning. This article revolves around the problem of catalyst deactivation during the DRM reaction. It expands upon the thermodynamics and mechanisms of the DRM reaction, analyzes the causes of metal catalyst deactivation due to carbon deposition, sintering, and poisoning, and summarizes how the active components, supports, and additives of metal catalysts restrain the DRM catalyst deactivation during the reaction. The analysis revealed that changing the type and size of the active metal, adjusting the properties of the support, and adding additives can further regulate the dispersion of the active component, the interaction between the active component and the support, the oxygen vacancies of the support, and the acidity and basicity of the catalyst surface, ultimately achieving control over the metal catalyst’s resistance to sintering, carbon deposition, and sulfur poisoning. In addition, it discusses the application of metal catalysts in photothermal and plasma-catalyzed DRM. Finally, it outlines the prospects for research on metal catalysts for the DRM.

Evolutionary Model and Experimental Validation of Gas-Bearing Coal Permeability under Negative Pressure Conditions.

Coal bed methane drainage is the main approach to lower risks of coal seam while raising the efficiency in natural resource utilization. The negative pressure used for extraction in coal mines is largely determined empirically due to a lack of experimental research on how coal permeability changes under the combined influence of effective stress and negative pressure. This results in low gas extraction efficiency and concentration. In this paper, to study the effect law of complex stress and extraction on coal permeability during coal and gas co-mining, a test system was specially designed to determine the gas flow and coal permeability of coal samples under different stress paths and negative pressure conditions in the lab. The study analyzed the correlation between coal permeability, effective stress, and negative pressure and subsequently developed a permeability evolution model for gas-bearing coal under negative pressure conditions. The results showed that the permeability of coal increases with the increase in negative pressure and decreases with the increase in effective stress; the permeability of coal can be abruptly changed by changes in stress loading patterns; the established model of permeability evolution of gas-bearing coal can better reflect the correlation between permeability, effective stress, and negative pressure. The research outcomes offer a valuable theoretical foundation for the efficient extraction and utilization of methane in coal mines.

Ni-doped Ba0.9Zr0.8Y0.2O3-δ as a methane dry reforming catalyst for direct CH4–CO2 solid oxide fuel cells

Fuel flexibility is one of the significant advantages of solid oxide fuel cells (SOFCs). The utilization of methane in SOFCs can not only reduce fuel costs, but also greatly expand its application scenarios, which is of great significance to the commercial development of SOFCs. However, when methane is directly used, Ni-based cermet anode suffers from coking, which seriously affects the durability of the cell. To alleviate the coking issue, a reforming layer outside the Ni-based anode-supporter was proposed in this study, and Ba0.9(Zr0.8Y0.2)1-xNixO3-δ (BZYNix, x = 0.05, 0.1, 0.15 and 0.2) was used as reforming layer material. Among BZYNix catalysts, BZYNi0.2 exhibited excellent catalytic activity toward dry reforming of methane, and methane conversion was as high as 85% at 750 °C. The excellent catalytic durability and coking-resistance of BZYNi0.2 were also confirmed. When BZYNi0.2 reforming layer was applied, the single cell fueled with CH4–CO2 fuel showed significantly improved electrochemical performance, durability and coking-resistance. The utilization of BZYNi0.2 reforming layer provides guidance for solving the coking issue of SOFC cermet anodes when fueled with hydrocarbon.

Acidophilic methanotrophs: Occurrence, diversity, and possible bioremediation applications.

Methanotrophs have been identified and isolated from acidic environments such as wetlands, acidic soils, peat bogs, and groundwater aquifers. Due to their methane (CH4 ) utilization as a carbon and energy source, acidophilic methanotrophs are important in controlling the release of atmospheric CH4 , an important greenhouse gas, from acidic wetlands and other environments. Methanotrophs have also played an important role in the biodegradation and bioremediation of a variety of pollutants including chlorinated volatile organic compounds (CVOCs) using CH4 monooxygenases via a process known as cometabolism. Under neutral pH conditions, anaerobic bioremediation via carbon source addition is a commonly used and highly effective approach to treat CVOCs in groundwater. However, complete dechlorination of CVOCs is typically inhibited at low pH. Acidophilic methanotrophs have recently been observed to degrade a range of CVOCs at pH < 5.5, suggesting that cometabolic treatment may be an option for CVOCs and other contaminants in acidic aquifers. This paper provides an overview of the occurrence, diversity, and physiological activities of methanotrophs in acidic environments and highlights the potential application of these organisms for enhancing contaminant biodegradation and bioremediation.

A new concept for complex mining of mineral raw material resources from DTEK coal mines based on sustainable development and ESG strategy

Purpose. The research purpose is to develop a concept for complex mining of mineral resources from coal mines using the example of PJSC DTEK Pavlohradvuhillia mines with a transition to multi-product production of clean drinking water, utilization of methane, secondary coal from rock dumps and sludge reservoirs, low-potential thermal energy of mine groundwaters and associated raw materials from desalination waste. Methods. The research uses an integrated approach, which includes an analysis of existing experience and available complex coal mining technologies, laboratory studies of mine water desalination technology by the reverse osmosis method with thermal distillation of concentrated brine, and chemical analysis using ElvaX laboratory equipment. Findings. This paper presents the research results of a comprehensive analysis of mineral raw material resources related to coal mining. The technically achievable energy potential that can be produced from the secondary coal of rock dumps and sludge reservoirs has been determined, which in total is 183.3 TJ. The annual heat potential of methane gas utilization has been estimated, which in total of PJSC DTEK Pavlohradvuhillia’s mines reaches 7.1 PJ. The possibility of extracting up to 1.12 TJ/year of associated thermal energy from the water-drainage installation of mine complexes has been determined. For the conditions of the Zakhidno-Donbaska mine, the authors of the paper have developed a technological scheme for the water preparation process by the reverse osmosis with the desalination brine treatment by the method of multistage evaporation on adiabatic evaporators. Originality. For the first time, the energy flows related to coal mining technology have been comprehensively analyzed for the possibility of their joint use to cover the needs of the mine complex. The prospects for complex mining of mineral resources have been assessed based on the adaptation of the mine complex production facilities to the multi-product production of clean drinking water, utilization of methane gas, low-potential thermal energy from mine groundwaters and secondary raw materials of desalination waste. Practical implications. The proposed set of technological solutions will ensure the sustainable development and diversification of the production of PJSC DTEK Pavlohradvuhillia coal-mining enterprises, as well as the effective transformation of coal-mining cities during the period of transition from mono-product production to the creation of multi-business production complexes that comply with ESG principles. The creation of multi-product mine complexes capable of producing not only coal, but also heat and associated mineral raw material resources, should become a guarantee of stable social-economic development of coal-mining regions.