The Australian Coal Association Research Program funded 71 new projects this year, with 20 projects dedicated to the underground sector.
ACARP kicked in $A12.5 million towards total funding of $20.4 million for new projects. Of that, a total of almost $7 million went to underground projects.
The new projects were added to 82 existing underground projects with ACARP funding of $18.3 million.
New projects focusing on roadway development this year will build on a review originally conducted by Gary Gibson. The review determined more communication was needed so industry could share both its good and bad experiences to achieve best practice.
"We are going to continue growing in this area provided that the people that attend the roadway development operators' workshops are happy with the direction and focus we are taking with this research. Industry feedback is important instead of researchers just working in isolation," an ACARP spokesperson told International Longwall News.
The review also revealed areas that were critical if industry was to improve roadway development.
"Specifically automation has been key to improving roadway development," the spokesperson said.
"Rather than developing large machines that break people's hearts, this program is about taking what we are doing in small doable steps and improving it.
"No large machines will come out of this but the processes that need to be automated will be attacked one after the other."
The new projects dedicated to roadway development this year include research by the University of Wollongong looking at a polymer-based alternative to steel mesh for coal mine strata reinforcement; funding for further workshops under the roadway development improvement project; and a continuous miner mounted, fully automated system for installing self-drilling bolts and steel mesh for primary roof and rib support during roadway development.
Looking at the bigger picture of coal research in Australia, the ACARP spokesperson said compared to the rest of the world, research in Australia was "exceptionally healthy".
"The rest of the world seems to be spending the vast majority of its money - not just a component - on clean coal technology. There is a real need to reserve some of the research investment for the very challenge of producing coal," the spokesperson said.
"The production of coal is very demanding - especially underground - and it requires better and better technology as the reserves become deeper and gassier.
"We continue to look overseas for new research so it can be integrated into the program. There is not a sense of superiority but an awareness of who is good at what and there is a general view that Australia sits within the top one or two countries in each technical area."
Watch International Longwall News and Australian Longwall Magazine for articles on individual projects.
