Soaring world energy demand has led to increasing interest in low-rank coal. Until now, low-rank coal's potential has been limited by expensive, complex upgrade methods. the smart solution to upgrading low-cost coal - simply and at low cost. The environmental effects are to reduce sulfur and mercury associated with water removal, increase heat content of coal resulting in lower NOx per kWhr generation and increasing fuel and boiler efficiency leading to lower CO2 per kWhr.