The ICCI (previously the Center for Research on Sulfur in Coal) has been in existence since 1982 and like many such bodies in recent years has de-emphasized purely fundamental research which resulted in few commercial outcomes.

The ICCI services producers and users of Illinois coal, and tries to create new markets for the product. In essence, the ICCI aims to promote the development of technologies that contribute to the economic and environmentally sound use of Illinois coal.

Illinois coal production amounts to about 35 million tons of thermal coal per annum from twelve underground and six surface mines. This is down from 60 million tons a decade ago. At the end of 2002, two longwall mines remained operating in Illinois – Monterey 1, which produced 3.268 million clean tons and Galatia, which produced 6.303 million tons.

“In an effort to make better use of the Illinois taxpayer’s money, greater effort is being made to fund projects that will progress towards demonstration and development of useful technologies and concepts,” said Joseph Hirschi, ICCI project manager.

“More attention is being given to developing synergies between additional state programs for funding projects in the advanced stages of commercialization.”

The ICCI is funded primarily by an indirect tax on Illinois electric utility bills to the value of about US$3 million per annum. Usually projects selected for funding include matching funds so that ICCI spending is significantly leveraged with non-state money. Occasionally, principal investigators will ask for and receive support from the ICCI in order to secure federal funding.

In addition to the Coal Research Program, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity’s (DCEO) Office of Coal Development (OCD) also has programs for Coal Development, Coal Demonstration, Coal Competitiveness (Infrastructure), Coal Education, and Coal Revival. The annual budget for all of these programs exceeds US$20 million.

Project selection is a seven-step process, similar in some ways to the Australian ACARP model. A formal Request for Proposals (RFP) is issued that outlines the program areas for targeted work. In 2003, 57 proposals were received in response to the RFP. Unsolicited proposals are also given consideration after the RFP deadline.

All proposals are reviewed for responsiveness to the ICCI guidelines and for technical merit. The review process consists of an inside review by the ICCI staff and an outside review from at least two peer reviewers chosen by the ICCI staff. In 2003, 54 different peer reviewers participated in the review process.

Proposals are then ranked and submitted for approval to the DCEO/OCD. In 2003, 16 proposals totaling US$1.7 million were recommended and approved for funding in response to the RFP. Research is provided by universities and university sponsored research centers, private and government contracted research labs, federal labs, and some private companies and small businesses.

On the issue of R&D sponsors seeking protection of IP to gain production advantages, Hirschi had this to say: “This problem is best handled by encouraging industry participation in all funded projects. Matching support in the form of in-kind contributions and cash are looked upon very favorably in the review process so most of the projects we fund have a high level of industry participation. The result is that the participating companies are involved in the development process, not just the application of new technology as it becomes available.”

Technical reports are the main vehicle for disseminating information. All reports are posted on the ICCI website and published in an Annual Report. Technology transfer workshops or conferences are occasionally sponsored. Some project results are presented at the Illinois Mining Institute’s (IMI) Annual Meeting and at other national and international conferences.

“We are currently working to coordinate some of these events in order to best showcase our results,” Hirschi added.

ICCI is in the midst of a project: Development and Demonstration of Advanced Mining Technologies to Reduce Production Costs. The project is aimed at developing technologies to reduce underground production costs by 20%, with respect to the current typical FOB price of US$20 per ton in the state.

The four priority areas in the study were:

1. Potential of high-voltage continuous miners to increase face productivity

2. Development of advanced face haulage systems to optimize production capacity of continuous miners

3. Improved dust control in face areas

4. Control of out-of-seam dilution

Over the next few weeks ILN will provide synopses of these studies.