Air

Greenhouse gases
(continued)

• energy efficient equipment
  The efficient use of energy contributes to operating savings and helps to lower the rate of greenhouse gas emissions. Companies look for ways to improve energy efficiency through mine planning and more energy efficient equipment. For example: bigger haul trucks carry more coal, delivering more tonnes of product per litre of fuel than smaller vehicles. Automated loading and unloading systems at mines and port facilities contribute to energy savings. And the aluminium bodies of coal-carrying rail cars are designed to be lightweight and use less fuel.
  
  
• clean coal technologies
  Research programs are testing new technologies that could lower or nearly eliminate emissions from burning coal.
  
  A number of coal conversion technologies — integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC), fluidized bed combustion, advanced pulverized coal combustion and super-critical and ultra super-critical burners — are operating or being developed. These more efficient technologies can be combined with district heating and cogeneration to achieve thermal efficiencies much higher than simple cycle natural gas turbines. When currently available filtration equipment is installed, clean coal plants are expected to bring emissions to near zero. Together, these technological advances could significantly increase the operating efficiency and environmental acceptability of coal-fired generation.
  
  Through the Canadian Clean Power Coalition (CCPC), Canadian coal producers are working with electrical utilities and government to develop clean coal technologies that offer significantly reduced air and greenhouse gas emissions. The CCPC has completed feasibility studies for two clean coal technology demonstration projects, with the first targeted for operation in 2007.
  
  
• performance reporting
  Performance reporting helps industry to identify new opportunities to continually improve their environmental performance. Canadian mining companies produce public environmental reports that document their environmental commitments and their progress towards addressing environmental impacts, including greenhouse gas emissions.
  
  The Coal Association of Canada and mining companies also participate in Canada’s Voluntary Challenge and Registry (VCR) Program. The VCR is a private-public partnership that encourages public and private sector organizations to voluntarily reduce their greenhouse gas emissions and report yearly on their progress.