Research

CURRENTLY WORKING PROJECTS

Green Mine – total revitalization and resocialization of the ČSA quarry

The project is co-financed by the European Union. The main objective of the project is to provide a sustainable future for the location of the Czechoslovak Army coal mine and the former Centrum mine and to contribute to solving social, economic and environmental problems not only of the quarry site itself, but also of the entire region.

• Program name: Operational Program Just Transformation
• Project registration number: CZ.10.02.01/00/24_048/0000375
• Project holder: Sev.en Inntech a.s.
• Period: 2024-2027
• Principal researcher: Ing. Vlastimil Moni, Ph.D.
• Project partners: Czech University of Life Sciences in Prague, Economic and Social Council of the Ústí nad Labem, Jan Evangelista Purkyně University in Ústí nad Labem, University of Chemical Technology in Prague, Research Institute for Landscape, v. v. i.

 

HYDROMINE

(Pumped HYDROelectric Storage in post MINEd areas to support regional net-zero emission energy systems development)

This project supports the CETP3032 goal of optimizing net-zero energy systems through small and medium-sized, cost-effective pumped hydro storage (PHS) units in post-mining and quarry sites. With over 100,000 abandoned and 8,000 flooded sites in Europe, the potential for PHS is significant. The project will benchmark this potential and develop highly efficient reversible pumps (PAT mode) via simulations and lab testing. Design recommendations for PAT units will reduce capital costs. Environmentally friendly pipeline materials will also be developed to lower environmental impact, promoting sustainable energy infrastructure.

• Provider: TAČR
• Period: 2024-2027
• Principal researcher: Ing. Vlastimil Moni, Ph.D.
• Project partners: COO - WUST (PL), BEN - TUC (EL), POLTEGOR (PL), KOSD (PL), UP (RO), CUT (DE), FRAUNHOFER (DE)

 

MiDSafe

(Advancing Post-Mining Waste Dump Safety and Sustainability)

MiDSafe focuses on improving safety and sustainability of coal and lignite mine waste dumps, which are geotechnically complex and prone to instability. The project develops a comprehensive geotechnical database to support risk assessment and monitoring. It explores innovative materials and methods for hazard mitigation, including fuzzy systems and 3D modeling for slope stability. A European database of waste dumps will be created, and options for reuse will be explored. MiDSafe aims to minimize risks with advanced materials like geopolymers and zeolites, while enhancing long-term dump management strategies.

• Provider: RFCS
• Period: 2024-2027
• Principal researcher: Mgr. Radka Dužeková
• Project partners: COO - POLT (PL), BEN - NTUA (EL), TUC (EL), SUB (ES), CEO (RO), UP (RO), GIG-PIB (PL), LIA (EL), UAB (RO), PWR (PL)

 

GrEnMine

(Gravitational Energy storage in the post-Mine areas)

The main objective of the GrEnMine project is to develop novel gravitational energy storage systems located in former mining areas and waste dump sites. These systems move heavy blocks or bulk granular materials between different elevations to store and release energy. To validate this gravitational storage technology, the project will include detailed mathematical modelling, physical testing with small-scale demonstrators, and creating a comprehensive tool for assessing the suitability of open-pit mining sites for gravity-based energy storage.

GrEnMine responds to the growing challenge of energy storage within the context of the global energy transition, where increasingly unstable renewable sources such as solar and wind dominate. Unlike conventional pumped hydro storage, which accounts for 98% of global storage capacity but faces significant geographic and economic constraints, GrEnMine offers a flexible, low-impact solution. The project directly supports a just transition for former coal regions by repurposing degraded post-mining landscapes into assets for clean energy infrastructure. It is aligned with the research priorities of the Research Fund for Coal & Steel (RFCS). Introducing innovative, practical applications of gravitational energy storage technologies contributes to the objective of "Supporting the just transition of the coal sector and regions.

Dedicated profile on the Linkedin platform: https://www.linkedin.com/company/grenmine

• Provider: RFCS
• Project number (ID): 101157790
• Period: 2024-2027
• Principal researcher: Ing. Vlastimil Moni, Ph.D.
• Project partners: Wrocław University of Science and Technology, AGH University of Krakow, Societatea Complexul Energetic Oltenia S.A. ,POLTEGOR Institute of Open Cast Mining ,Technical University of Crete ,University of Petroșani ,Four Point Sp. z o.o. , PGE Górnictwo i Energetyka Konwencjonalna S.A.,  Achlada Mines – LTGNTTORYCHETA Achladas A.E.
• Total project value: €3,551,699.80

REECOL

(Ecological rehabilitation and long term monitoring of post mining areas)

The REECOL project unites eleven partners from five European countries, including research institutions and coal companies, to support long-term environmental sustainability in coal regions in transition. It focuses on improving ecological rehabilitation by considering ecosystem degradation, future land use, affordability, and climate change. New solutions for land reclamation and ecosystem recovery will be tested in case study areas. Efficient monitoring using biological, geochemical, and remote sensing methods will be implemented. A certification method for evaluating post-mining rehabilitation and identifying best practices will be introduced. The project aims to deliver innovative research with lasting socio-ecological benefits.

• Provider: RFCS                                      
• Period: 2023-2026
• Principal researcher: RNDr. Michal Řehoř, Ph.D.
• Project partners: POLTEGOR – INSTYTUT (POL) - INSTYTUT GÓRNICTWA ODKRYWKOWEGO (POL) - VUHU (CZE) - GŁÓWNY INSTYTUT GÓRNICTWA (POL) – PAŃSTWOWY INSTYTUT BADAWCZY (POL) - BUREAU DE RECHERCHES GÉOLOGIQUES ET MINIÈRES (FRA) - INSTITUT NATIONAL DE L’ENVIRONNEMENT INDUSTRIEL ET DES RISQUES (FRA) - INSTYTUT TECHNIKI GÓRNICZEJ KOMAG (POL) - DIMOSIA EPICHEIRISI ILEKTRISMOU (GRE) - VALORHIZ SAS (FRA) - POLSKA GRUPA GÓRNICZA SA (POL) - PREMOGOVNIK VELENJE, D.D. (SLO) - POLYTECHNEIO KRITIS (GRE)

 

COMPLETED PROJECTS

RAFF

(Risk assessment of final pits during flooding)

The RAFF project focuses on pit lakes, one of the most common after-uses of post-mining voids. To date, no precedent exists in Europe for the creation of a pit lake in a brown coal open-pit mine with a volume of approximately 1.5 billion cubic meters. While smaller final pits have been successfully flooded, some have experienced serious geotechnical problems during the filling process. It is anticipated that larger-scale pit lakes will face significant geotechnical challenges that could hinder their reclamation.

Most of these artificial lakes are intended for future recreational use, making the assessment of slope stability and long-term safety essential. Key monitoring objectives include the geotechnical stability of slopes (both above and below the waterline) and water quality—both in the lake and in its surrounding and feeding sources.

The project aims to develop comprehensive models for effective risk assessment. Innovative results will contribute to best-practice methodologies and guidelines enhancing the safety, environmental integrity, and sustainability of flooded open-pit mines. The project will involve in-situ investigations, laboratory testing, and both numerical and physical modelling. A total of 13 deliverables are planned, including methodologies, computational models, and guidelines.

• Provider: RFCS                                     
• Period: 2019-2022
• Principal researcher: Ing. Lukáš Žižka, Ph.D.
• Project partners: POLTEROGR (POL) – POLYTECHNEIO KRITIS (GRE) - INSTITUT NATIONAL DE L ENVIRONNEMENT ET DES RISQUES (FRA) - ETHNIKO KENTRO EREVNAS KAI TECHNOLOGIKIS ANAPTYXIS (GRE) - THE UNIVERSITY OF NOTTINGHAM (UK) - GLOWNY INSTYTUT GORNICTWA (POL) - UNIVERSITATEA DIN PETROSANI (ROM) – DIAMO (CZE) - CTL MACZKI-BÓR (POL) – SUBTERRA INGENIERIA (SPA) - SOCIETATEA COMPLEXUL ENERGETIC OLTENIA (ROM)

 

BEWEXMIN

(Bucket wheel excavators operating under difficult mining conditions including unmineable inclusions and geological structures with excessive mining resistance)

The BEWEXMIN project addresses the increasingly challenging conditions in both new and existing lignite mines, caused by unmineable inclusions and geological structures with high resistance. These lead to dynamic and impulsive loads on machinery, resulting in frequent failures and costly downtimes.

The project aimed to reduce the failure rate of bucket wheel excavators by either minimizing their sensitivity to impulse loading or mitigating the loads themselves. The research was structured into three interconnected work packages:

1. Dynamic Load Assessment: Experimental analysis of mass-related dynamic surpluses and their relation to the physical and mechanical properties of the material, development of an alternative method for computing pulse load strength, and definition of operational requirements.

2. Monitoring System: Design of a stress monitoring system for excavator structures, enabling real-time assessment of structural load and early warning for potential failures.

3. Obstacle Detection: Development of early detection systems for unmineable materials to reduce impulsive load values.

All activities were synergistically aligned to reduce equipment failures in demanding mining environments.

• Provider: RFCS                                     
• Period: 2019-2022
• Principal researcher: Ing. Vlastimil Moni, Ph.D.
• Project partners: UNIVERSTIY OF NOTTINGHAM (UK) – POLTEROGR (POL) - ETHNIKO KENTRO EREVNAS KAI TECHNOLOGIKIS ANAPTYXIS (GRE) – INSTITUT NATIONAL DE L ENVIRONNEMENT ET DES RISQUES (FRA) – KOMAG (POL) – EMAG (POL) – GLOWNY INSTYTUT GORNICTWA (POL) – LUBELSKI WEGIEL BOGDANKA (POL) – DIAMO (CZE) - CTL MACZKI-BÓR (POL) – PUBLIC POWER CORPORATION (GRE)

 

SUMAD

(Sustainable use of mining waste dumps)

The SUMAD project unties European experts to investigate the future use of made-ground consisting of coal-mining spoil with a focus on the geotechnical, sustainability, environmental, socio-economic and long-term management challenges. Advanced risk analysis and physical and numerical modelling will be applied to different sustainable rehabilitation schemes with a particular focus on the technical viability for the development of renewable energy infrastructure. Tip operators and developers as well as authoritative bodies involved in the project will provide valuable input to ensure the maximum possible impact. A case-study site will be used as a test-bed for the concepts developed during the project.

• Provider: RFCS                                    
• Period: 2019-2022
• Principal researcher: RNDr. Jan Burda, Ph.D.
• Project partners: UNIVERSTIY OF NOTTINGHAM (UK) – POLTEROGR (POL) - ETHNIKO KENTRO EREVNAS KAI TECHNOLOGIKIS ANAPTYXIS (GRE) – INSTITUT NATIONAL DE L ENVIRONNEMENT ET DES RISQUES (FRA) – KOMAG (POL) – EMAG (POL) – GLOWNY INSTYTUT GORNICTWA (POL) – LUBELSKI WEGIEL BOGDANKA (POL) – DIAMO (CZE) - CTL MACZKI-BÓR (POL) – PUBLIC POWER CORPORATION (GRE)

 

TEXMIN 

(The impact of extreme weather events on mining operations)

While the effects of climate change have been widely studied, the mining industry has only recently begun to address the risks posed by extreme weather events. Some mines are already experiencing the consequences, and climate projections indicate a rise in the frequency and severity of such events. The TEXMIN project assesses the environmental impacts of extreme weather and long-term climate change on operating, closed, and abandoned mines. Using regional climate models and baseline climate reviews, the project will analyze the effects of increased precipitation, temperature fluctuations, and abrupt atmospheric pressure changes. Focus areas include mine water management, gas emissions, and structural stability. The project will develop risk assessment tools, adaptation strategies, and monitoring systems. Selected remedial actions will be tested on a pilot scale for shafts and spoil dumps. Outputs are being presented at international conferences and published in peer-reviewed journals.

• Provider: RFCS                                      
• Period: 2019-2022
• Principal researcher: RNDr. Michal Řehoř, Ph.D.
• Project partners: GLOWNY INSTYTUT GORNICTWA (POL) – UNIVERSITY OF EXETER (UK) – POLITECHNIKA SLASKA (POL) – SUBTERA (SPA) – ETHNIKO KENTRO EREVNAS KAI TECHNOLOGIKIS ANAPTYXIS (GRE) – DMT GmbH & CO (GER) – SPOLKA RESTRUKTURYZACJI KOPALN (POL) – TAURON WYDOBYCIE SPOLKA AKCYJNA (POL)

Project outputs realized as part of the TEXMIN project and published as part of international conferences or in scientifical publications.

SLOPES

The SLOPES project united European specialists to advance monitoring technologies and risk assessment methodologies for slopes in open-pit lignite mining. It concentrated on three main areas:

1. Modern Monitoring Systems: Integration of automated, real-time risk assessment systems, with a particular focus on UAVs (drones) for data collection in inaccessible or hazardous areas.

2. Stability Analysis: Development of advanced probabilistic models and numerical simulations to better understand and evaluate the performance and risk profiles of rock-face slopes.

3. Spoil Material Behaviour: Investigation into the long-term stability and deformation of spoil heaps, utilizing lab testing, small-scale physical modelling (including centrifuge testing), and numerical methods.

The results enable the application of reliability-based decision-making tools, significantly improving slope design and safety in open-pit lignite mines.

• Provider: RFCS                                     
• Period: 2015-2018
• Principal researcher: RNDr. Jan Burda, Ph.D.
• Project partners: UNIVERSTIY OF NOTTINGHAM (UK) – GEOCONTROL (SPA) – SUBTERRA (SPA) – POLTEGOR (POL) – CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY-HELLAS (GRE) – UNIVERSITY OF EXETER (UK) – GLOWNY INSTYTUT GORNICTWA (POL) – LUBELSKI WEGIEL BOGDANKA (POL) – DIAMO (CZE) - CTL MACZKI-BÓR (POL) – INSTITUT NATIONAL DE L ENVIRONNEMENT ET DES RISQUES (FRA)

DIRPRIMCOAL

(Direct Primary Coal Liquefaction via an Innovative Co-processing Approach with Waste and Petroleum Feedstocks)

DIRPRIMCOAL is a research project with the goal to improve the feasibility and environmental performance of direct coal liquefaction (DCL) without the need for extremely large-scale plant and with a focus on low-rank and perhydrous coals (including wastes). The primary DCL products will be then investigated as a raw material for a co-processing with petroleum fractions in existing refinery facilities. The test programme will cover both catalytic cracking and hydrocracking of heavy fractions and a hydro-isomerisation of the naphtha. The research will identify and implement the improvements that need to be made to existing catalysts to optimally co-process heavy coal liquids and petroleum fractions.

• Provider: RFCS                                    
• Period: 2016-2019
• Principal researcher: Ing. Lukáš Anděl
• Project partners: UNIVERSTIY OF NOTTINGHAM (UK) – UniCRE (CZE) – ESTRA ENERGY TECHNOLOGY STRATEGIES (UK) – SOLUCIONES CATALITICAS IBERCAT (SPA) – MOTOR OIL (HELLAS) DIILISTIRIA KORINTHOU (GRE) – LABORATORIO NACIONAL DE ENERGIA E GEOLOGIA (POR) – ETHNIKO KENTRO EREVNAS KAI TECHNOLOGIKIS ANAPTYXIS (GRE) – CIEMAT (SPA) – UNIVERSITY OF ULSTER (IRE)

 

COALBYPRO 

(Innovative Management of COAL BY - PROducts leading also to CO₂ emissions reduction)

Coal ash is disposed of or used in different ways depending on the type of by-product, the processes at the plant and the regulations the power plant has to follow. Some power plants may dispose of it in surface impoundments or in landfills. Others may discharge it into a nearby waterway under the plant's water discharge permit. Coal ash may also be recycled into products like concrete or wallboard. Coal ash contains contaminants that without proper management, they can pollute waterways, ground water, drinking water, and the air. Therefore, the disposal of the by-products has become an important issue. Considering that coal combustion emits a great amount of CO₂, the produced fly ash can be used as a material for on-site CO₂ capture and storage (CCS).

COALBYPRO is a research project co-funded by the European Commission under the Research Fund for Coal and Steel (RFCS) having as a main goal to encounter new methods for the management of the coal/ lignite by-products and at the same time deal with the CO₂ that is emitted during the fuel combustion.

• Provider: RFCS                                    
• Period: 2017-2020
• Principal researcher: Ing. Lukáš Anděl
• Project partners: CENTRE FOR RESEARCH AND TECHNOLOGY HELLAS (GRE) - UJV REZ (CZE) – GLOWNY INSTITUT GORNICTWA (POL) - VYSOKA SKOLA CHEMICKO-TECHNOLOGICKA V PRAZE (CZE) - TECHNISCHE UNIVERSITATE BERGAKADEMIE FREIBERG (GER)