Environmental Clean Technologies Limited is developing a unique, zero-emission, low-cost method to dry lignite and transform this abundant, but widely unusable resource into a resource for the production of clean hydrogen, agricultural char, industrial chemicals and critical minerals.

Based on research initially conducted by CRA and the University of Melbourne in the early 1980s, the technology – COLDry – is a patented process that changes the naturally porous form of lignite to produce a dry, dense pellet, via a process called ‘densification’.

The COLDry process offers benefits, including:

• A process that has been tested and proven successful on a wide range of lignite types
• A more energy-efficient process for drying lignite than conventional methods
• Zero direct CO₂ emissions, enabling low and zero-emission downstream applications

When applied to high-moisture content 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 contain a high energy value, whilst significantly reducing CO₂ emissions compared to its original form.

The Lignite Challenge

• Low net energy values restrict available avenues to create value from lignite assets
• High moisture drives high CO₂ intensity, limiting its use
• Its can spontaneously combust, restricting its use predominantly to mine-mouth applications

Balancing these disadvantages are the positive traits of lignite:

• High levels of high-value material
• Typically low ash and sulphur levels
• High chemical reactivity, which is desirable in higher-value conversion processes, including hydrogen, char and their derivatives

What will Drive Coldry Adoption?

Economic Security

• Re-valuation of lignite reserves based on the pivot away from emissions-intensive power generation to low and zero-emission applications
• Hydrogen market development and the shift away from hydrocarbon use for transport
• Opportunity to diversify into new product streams – Coal-to-liquids (CTL), fertiliser (Urea) etc
• Value-added industry and jobs, enabled by a cost-effective drying solution

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
• Ambitious hydrogen market development goals globally
• The exit of legacy coal power generation assets and the resulting high cost of electricity network storage and support infrastructure required to underpin reliability of increased wind and solar deployment

Climate Security

• Current focus on climate change has resulted in significant implications for lignite use due to the high level of CO₂ emissions from historic power generation
• Provides a least-cost abatement solution for markets with a carbon price
• COLDry enables the deployment of affordable, reliable low and zero-emissions solutions for a range of hard-to-abate problems, such as iron and steel making, clean hydrogen production and agricultural char production