Forecasting and exploring innovation pathways for generic technologies in the coal industry

As a foundational technological bedrock spanning the entire coal industry chain-from mining and processing to utilization-common coal technologies represent fundamental, versatile core technologies that underpin the industrial upgrading and high-quality development of the coal sector. They play a significant role in advancing the transformation of the coal industry toward premium, intelligent, and green development. This paper analyzes the global energy transition trends, structural shifts, and China’s energy production and consumption patterns, proposing a technological pathway for the transformation and sustainable high-quality development of the coal industry through the transplantation of advanced technologies and innovation in common technologies. It comprehensively elaborates on the major progress achieved in intelligent, green, and efficient coal mining, as well as clean, efficient, and low-carbon coal utilization technologies. Furthermore, it introduces an innovative technological pathway for the coupled development of coal-power-chemicals-new energy systems, facilitating a green transformation and upgrading of the coal industry through bidirectional empowerment: “new energy decarbonizes coal development, while coal provides a safety net for new energy.” Focusing on six key dimensions of common technologies in the industry-basic scientific challenges in coal development, common technologies for coal safety production, intelligent unmanned/minimally manned mining technologies, common green mining technologies, clean and efficient coal utilization, and the integration of AI + resources + energy + ecological smart complexes-this study systematically outlines the major challenges facing the high-quality development of the coal industry. It identifies breakthrough directions, key research priorities, and systematic solutions for common technologies. Based on the current state of common technology development in coal mining, processing, and utilization in China, the paper offers predictions for the 15 th Five-Year Plan period: achieving holographic interaction and intelligent decision-making between geological models and mine production systems; breaking through the construction of multimodal vertical large models in coal mines; advancing the R&D and engineering demonstration of 10 kV technical equipment for working faces; upgrading and iterating technologies such as inertial navigation and precise personnel positioning; demonstrating routine unmanned/minimally manned mining in thin and relatively thin coal seams; conducting engineering demonstrations of 20 Mt annual output in 500 m ultra-long faces in thick seams; demonstrating intelligent unmanned/minimally manned mining under complex conditions in deep mines with rock burst risks; overcoming technical barriers in continuous mining systems and intelligent semi-continuous unmanned/minimally manned technologies with complete equipment packages for open-pit coal mines; and promoting the widespread adoption of green mining technologies alongside comprehensive upgrades in intelligent coal preparation equipment. Long-term predictions for 2030 to 2050 are also proposed: by mid-century, a well-established system of intelligent green mining technologies and equipment will be gradually formed, achieving new breakthroughs in high-end coal conversion and utilization technologies. This will drive the efficient operation of a flexible, intelligent, and green coal supply system, fostering a new industrial landscape characterized by the full integration of coal-power-chemicals-new energy sectors, thereby ushering the coal industry into a new phase of high-quality development. The paper further proposes an innovation architecture for common coal technologies. By establishing a closed-loop innovation ecosystem of “policy guidance-resource supply-application feedback-service support,” it aims to propel the coal industry toward premium, intelligent, and green transformation, thereby providing a sustained supply and guarantee of common technologies for the sustainable, high-quality development of the coal sector.