Industrial Energy Systems | Coal & Coke Technologies

Current research on coal and coke technologies focuses on improving the energy efficiency of Canada’s metallurgical industries, including cokemaking, ironmaking, and steelmaking. The goal of this research is to reduce the sector’s carbon footprint, while at the same time enhancing its sustainability.

On behalf of Canadian coal, steel, and metal producers, CanmetENERGY conducts research and development on metallurgical coal and coke technologies including energy recovery from coke production, metallurgical coke, bio-coke, and research into Canadian coal. As a partner with the Canadian Carbonization Research Association, our scientists perform cost-shared metallurgical fuels research that enhances fuel utilization efficiency, productivity, and the economic viability of these industries, while also protecting our environment.

Our coal evaluation, preparation, agglomeration and carbonization facilities are unique in Canada. They are available to industry on a "fee-for-service" basis to assist with mine planning, marketing and economic investigations; ensure safety during coking; and evaluate the quality of coke, carbon, coal and other alternate fuels including biofuels for metallurgical purposes.

As part of our search for green energy solutions for iron and steelmaking, we are working on a bio-steel breakthrough project to evaluate renewable energy sources (biofuels). This project examines fuel injection and coke manufacturing and the technical and economical feasibility of substituting fossil carbon with bio carbon for these technologies.

We are also strengthening our ties to international research organizations to perform co-operative research projects in the fields of metallurgical coal/coke science, biofuels for steelmaking and applications.

By engaging with our partners in these and other innovative research projects, we aim to increase the market penetration of Canadian coal with superior quality and better energy characteristics, and to develop standards for enhancing the knowledge and utilization of Canadian coal and coke, according to ISO/TC 27.

Find out more:

• Blast furnace optimization
• Research publications on innovation in the commercial and industrial sectors