Clean Coal Technologies Inc. (CCTC), a leading clean-energy company utilizing patented and proven technology (Pristine) to convert run of mine coal into a cleaner-burning and more efficient stabilized solid fuel, announced an award agreement of up to $1 million at University of Wyoming (UW) School of Energy Resources (SER) as part of the next-stage technology development. Earlier this year, university researchers successfully and independently verified the performance of CCTI’s Pristine M technology, the company said. The outcome identified performance improvement areas, which are being designed and incorporated into the next-stage field testing program scheduled to start in Wyoming.
“We are very pleased to announce that after independently validating our Pristine M coal ‘refining’ technology performance, the University of Wyoming has agreed to provide a matching grant of up to $1 million with the first agreement of $500,000 being made available in May for the next stage of our proprietary coal-beneficiation (Pristine) technology development,” CCTI CEO Robin Eves said. “These funds have been earmarked specifically for our second-generation test facility to be located in Gillette, Wyoming.”
This partnership with the university and the state of Wyoming ensures the test facility will be ready to commence testing of coal and help the company move to commercialization in an expedited manner, Eves said.
The second-generation plant will include process and engineering enhancements that the university’s simulated modeling study and experimental program advocated. “We fully expect it will further increase the plant’s performance and efficiency and will reduce the overall cost of a commercial unit,” Eves said. “Furthermore, the university’s work has informed and quantified the potential of manufacturing valuable byproducts as a consequence of the coal-beneficiation process.”
The University of Wyoming School of Energy Resources is recognized as a leading research institution in energy technology, particularly in the development of coal beneficiation and efforts to use the fuel more efficiently and to identify potentially profitable byproducts.
“We are delighted to be associated with this first of a kind and industry-leading technology,” said Richard Horner, director, School of Energy Resources. “We have validated that their technology does what it says on the packet and are honored that CCTI has placed its trust in our researchers to support the important next stage in bringing Pristine technology to market.”
CCTI said its clean coal technology may reduce some 90% of chemical pollutants from coal, including sulfur and mercury, thereby resolving emissions issues affecting coal-fired power plants.