Research Projects

CRL Energy has a proven history of research in energy, environment, minerals, and related fields. We supply high quality and innovative research in strategically important fields to New Zealand's energy and minerals sectors through Ministry of Science and Innovation, Research for Industry, and TechNZ programmes. CRL Energy also supplies focussed, state-of-the-art solutions to meet the diverse research requirements of industrial and commercial clients.

CRL Energy has a track record of research commercialisation with spin-off companies, development of consulting services from research projects, export of consulting services, export of state-of-the-art testing services, and analysis business.

CRL Energy has close links to universities, particularly Canterbury, Otago, and Victoria Universities, and we commonly foster students and graduates in our research programmes.

Click on the subheadings below to learn more about our various research programmes:

Clean Energy

CRL Energy’s high-efficiency oxygen-blown cogasifier integrate the use of biomass and coal with biomass with electrolysis to produce oxygen and hydrogen using intermittent renewable electric power.

Mine Drainage Framework

See also: mine drainage pages.

Energy Scenarios and Modelling

CRL Energy CEO Rob Whitney is the Executive Chair of the World Energy Council Global Energy Policy Scenarios Study, CRL Energy is a collaborator on the EnergyScape programme and has developed the EERA stock based energy efficiency model.

Mine hazards

CRL Energy is leading a research programme to better understand the hazards associated with exploring, developing, and mining New Zealand’s mineral resources.

See also: Spontaneous Combustion

Silicon Nitride Nanofibres

A new method of producing the high-value nanofibres using low cost New Zealand feedstocks such as coal, sand, and nitrogen from the air.

Also see our news items at:

• CRL Energy develops new silicon nitride nanofibre technology
• CRL Energy scientist has “Brightest Idea in Science”
• New Zealand nanotechnology for reinforcing high tech materials
• Silicon nitride nanofibres continue on winning streak

Other Research Areas

Other research areas include:

• Trace Metals - their distribution and mode of occurrence
• Geotechnical Research
• Coal Gasification
• CO₂ Capture and Sequestration
• Coking Coal Research
• Spontaneous Combustion
• Solid Fuel Combustion

International Research Programmes

CRL Energy is a participant in a number of collaborative International Energy Agency (IEA) research programmes.

Dr Rob Whitney
Chief Executive Officer