The Cooperative Research Centre for Coal in Sustainable Development, CCSD, sponsored the event that provided an overview of research and development in capture and sequestration (underground disposal). It also looked at issues and approaches that might be faced by generators, industry, governments and the community at large.
The seminar was jointly organised by CO2 CRC, the (Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technology), Australian Coal Association, CS Energy and Delta Energy.
The CEO of the CCSD, Frank van Schagen, said that CO2 sequestration is an emerging technology that if viable, could be an important environmental option, in tandem with the development of clean coal technologies.
When first proposed in 1977, the capture of CO2 at fuel-fired power plants, and its storage, attracted little attention because major hopes were held out for nuclear power and renewables. These options have not demonstrated a capacity to deliver energy to satisfy current trends in demand, placing renewed focus on CO2 mitigation.
CCSD’s Greg Duffy presented an overview of CO2 capture technologies and their integration with Australian power generation systems. Andy Rigg from the CO2 CRC updated delegates on Australian and overseas CO2 sequestration developments.
Research Manager of CCSD, Dr Lila Gurba and Peter Crosdale, James Cook University, discussed the state of international research and development and current obstacles to CO2 sequestration into unmineable coal seams.
The participants resolved to continue established relationships in order to deliver solutions for GHG capture and storage.
