Australian industry welcomes government commitment to carbon capture and storage

Posted by Daniel Gleeson on 3rd September 2015

Greg Evans, Chief Executive ACALET (COAL21 Fund) and Executive Director – Coal, Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) says the coal industry which funds Australia’s largest private sector commitment to CCS (carbon capture and storage) research and demonstration through the COAL21 Fund welcomes the A$25 million Research Development and Demonstration Fund announced by the Minister for Industry and Science Ian Macfarlane.

“Ongoing investment in research, development and demonstration in CCS technologies is vital along with the swelling investment in modern, clean and efficient coal power stations which is occurring at a rapid rate throughout Asia.

“In Australia we have already had great success in CCS related research and demonstration through the COAL21 Fund and other initiatives. Those projects have included:

  • The Callide OxyFuel Project in Queensland developing and demonstrating carbon capture using the oxyfuel technology, operating in carbon capture mode for over 10,000 hours
  • Numerous projects in Queensland, NSW, Victoria and Western Australia working towards demonstrating the local geology such as – the NSW Storage Project, Carbon Geostorage Initiative, CTSCo, Carbonnet, Collie South West Hub
  • ANLEC R&D who are working with Australian researchers including CSIRO and Australian universities to further the R&D in support of CCS.

“Internationally, CCS is growing strongly with 22 large scale projects operating or under construction while SaskPower’s Boundary Dam coal power station in Canada is achieving 90% CO2 emission reductions in its first few months of operation, some 1 Mt/y of CO2. That’s the equivalent of taking 250,000 cars off the road annually.

“The focus of the announced program to include research priorities in subsurface knowledge and mapping, transport infrastructure, and development of international collaboration and partnerships is sensible.

“ACALET (which manages the COAL21 Fund) and the Minerals Council of Australia welcomes the Australian Government’s continued support of CCS as a fundamental technology in achieving Australian and global emissions targets. As Minister Macfarlane points out, Australia’s energy resources are one of our most significant competitive advantages and further research and development in low emissions energy sources will strengthen Australia’s role as an energy superpower.