The research addresses one of three carbon capture and storage technologies in development worldwide and has the ability to reduce carbon emissions from an operating power station by up to 90%.

“More than 65% of global electricity production is derived from fossil fuels, with demand expected to rise,” emeritus professor Terry Wall said.

The project, funded by the Australian National Low Emission Coal Research and Development agency, addresses oxyfuel – a fossil fuel burnt in the presence of pure oxygen.

Led by Wall from the coal combustion group, this work supports ongoing research to refine the technology for industry-wide deployment.

“The technology will be tested at the Callide power station in Queensland, which is the first complete oxyfuel facility in the world and a leading example of how carbon capture technology can be applied to an existing coal-fired power station to produce low emissions electricity generation,” Wall said.

“As recent reports by the International Energy Agency Network highlight, supporting research into carbon capture technologies such as oxyfuel may help Australia meet long-term emissions reduction targets with the least cost to the economy.”

The University of Newcastle research team pioneered the feasibility of oxyfuel in 2003 in response to growing needs from the sector for sustainable energy technologies.