The new Co-operative Research Centre for Coal in Sustainable Development (CCSD) in Pinjarra Hills, was opened by Queensland mines minister Stephen Robertson.

The CCSD is jointly funded by the Commonwealth, the coal industry, power generating companies and universities. The Queensland Government is contributing $250,000 per year until 2008 to fund the operations.

“We know we have the resource base to keep us going for many years, but we need more research to ensure that we keep improving coal utilisation, its technology, and its possible mix with other fuels and energy sources while at the same time enhancing environmental performance,” Robertson said.

CCSD CEO Frank van Schagen said current research work, such as the PEFR (Pressurised Entrained Flow Reactor) would be vital in understanding how Australian coals performed in new technologies such as a coal gasification plant for electricity generation.

“Queensland and Federal government support recognises the importance of the coal industry and will enable important environmental issues such as greenhouse to drive a clean coal research agenda,” van Schagen said.

The CCSD replaced the Co-operative Research Centre for Black Coal Utilisation, based at Newcastle in NSW. The work carried out by BHP Billiton in Newcastle in Life Cycle Analysis of coal will form part of the CCSD’s research program.

CCSD chairman, Ken Smith said the new centre would explore the three dimensions of sustainability – environmental, social and economic.

Smith said the centre’s programs would focus on environmentally-significant emissions; coal characterisation and performance in coal-fired boilers and in blast furnaces; and new technologies for coal conversion.

“The technical research in coal utilisation and waste management will be guided towards sustainability goals of high efficiency and low waste impacts by results from life cycle analysis assessments, scenario analyses and holistic technology systems evaluations,” Smith said.

The CCSD’s objectives include:

- To improve the environmental performance of current coal technologies, and to promote the adoption of emerging clean coal technologies including the reduction of carbon dioxide emissions per unit of output;

- To assist in maximising the economic and social value of Australian coal resources and associated assets within acceptable environmental standards.

Robertson said Queensland’s export market, including Japan and Europe, are becoming concerned with issues of efficiency and environmental performance. CCSD research would play and important role in determining the future of Queensland's coal industry.