The uniqueness of the CISERA program is that it is able to adapt well to current and future needs of its members.  The CISERA has recently embarked on R&D projects with international researchers in Australia, France, Japan, Sweden, USA and this has allowed the development of global partners and programs.  In addition, the CISERA is pursuing significant GHG reduction initiatives with both the coal and steel sectors as this is fast becoming a very significant global directive for these industries.  In brief, the CISERA is examining ways to achieve carbon-neutral ironmaking in the middle to long-term (2030-2040) by partnering with Canadian and international partners.

Aligning the R&D Program with current and future needs of its members and industry, the CISERA has developed the following program areas:

Blast Furnace Ironmaking Process Enhancement:

Fundamentals of Coal Science:

  • To understand the fundamental science of coal exploration and coal utilization in order to improve global competiveness of Western Canadian Coal

Cokemaking and Coke Quality:

  • To improve quality of metallurgical coke by understanding the fundamental science of cokemaking and coke utilization for supporting high carbon efficiency blast furnace ironmaking.

Net Zero Emissions Steel:

Supply of Alternate Reductants and Fuels:

  • To establish the economically sustainable supply of alternate reductants and alternate fuels by:
    • Identification of sustainable biomass feedstock supplies and biogenic reductants and fuels production, with the necessary processing to provide bioproducts suitable to the iron and steel industry;
    • Establishment of regional renewable hydrogen hubs

Alternate Reductants Utilization:

  • To enable replace of fossil carbon reductants by renewable alternate reductants in existing steel production processes
  • To inform renewable alternate reductants producers on properties requirement for further enhancement in products suitability for steel production utilization
  • To inform steel producers on process modifications in accommodation of alternate reductant utilization while maintaining productivity and products quality

Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage:

  • Create a technology roadmap and decarbonization strategy for hard-to-abate CO2 emissions from Canadian iron and steel production
  • Advance the technology readiness level of priority emerging carbon capture technology(ies) to TRL6 for dynamic applications
  • Demonstrate how application of CCUS for iron and steel production fits into the bigger picture of decarbonization of Canada’s industry via CCUS and hydrogen production/utilization
  • Advance the development of CO2 utilization technologies
  • Address key knowledge gaps in CO2 transportation safety, geological storage in Central and Eastern Canada, and quantification of CO2 emissions from storage wells

System Integration and Optimization:

  • To reduce the greenhouse gas emissions within the iron and steel sector by leveraging waste heat recovery techniques and integrating energy systems.