Environmental Clean Technologies Limited has developed the world’s first economic method to dewater brown coal and transform this abundant, but widely unusable, resource into a Black Coal Equivalent (BCE).

Based on research initially conducted by CRA and Melbourne University in the early 1980′s, the technology – Coldry – is a patented process that changes the naturally porous form of brown coal to produce a dry, dense pellet by:

• ‘Unlocking’ the natural tendency of brown coal to ‘expel’ moisture via an exothermic chemical reaction
• Using virtually free, low grade waste heat from a co-located power station to facilitate drying and minimise energy input

When applied to lignite and some sub-bituminous coals, the mechanically simple Coldry process produces a feedstock in the form of densified pellets that are stable, easily stored, can be transported and are of similar energy value to many black coals, whilst significantly reducing CO2 emissions compared to its original brown coal form.

• Coldry pellets can be used in local black coal fired power plants and transported to remote black coal fired power plants
• 10-30% Coldry:Lignite mix can be used in existing lignite-fired plants for emissions reduction of 5%-15%, without modification to the plant
• 100% Coldry possible in significantly upgraded lignite plants
• New state-of-the-art black coal power stations can replace old, inefficient lignite-fired power stations, reducing emission by up to 50%

The Challenges for Brown Coal

• Low net energy values restrict available avenues to create value from brown coal assets
• High moisture drives high CO₂ intensity when used in traditional brown coal fired boiler designs
• Its Pyrophoric nature restricts usage predominantly to mine-mouth applications

Balancing these disadvantages are positive traits of Brown Coal:

• High levels of high value volatile material
• Typically low ash and sulphur levels
• High chemical reactivity, which is desirable in conversion processes

What will Drive Coldry Adoption?

Energy Security

• The growing global demand for high quality energy sources, and the supply-demand imbalance means that escalation of energy pricing is our future reality.
• Projected growth in coal based power generation of 1300 Gigawatts by 2030, mostly in Asia
• Uneven supply and demand driving development of previously uneconomic lignite resources

Carbon Pricing

• Current focus on climate change has resulted in significant implications for brown coal fired power generators due to the high level of CO₂ emissions
• Expected pricing of carbon emissions from power generation and transportation
• Coldry reduces emissions by up to 15% for existing brown coal fired power stations and up to 50% when used in state-of-the-art black coal power stations

Value Add

• Re-valuation of brown coal reserves based on enhanced energy value of upgraded lignite
• Export to thermal coal market providing a new revenue stream for existing brown coal mines currently only supplying mine-mouth power stations
• Opportunity to diversify into new product streams – Coal-to-liquids (CTL), fertiliser (Urea) etc