Demonstration and pilot projects

The aim of the program is to demonstrate that geosequestration or CCS is a viable option for CO2 mitigation under Australian conditions. The program also considers appropriate regional strategies for CO2 mitigation and keeps abreast of international developments through participation in other international demonstration projects.

The CO2CRC is currrently involved in three major carbon capture and storage demonstration projects in Australia. These are:

1. The CO2CRC Otway Project. This is Australias first demonstration of the deep geological storage or geosequestration of carbon dioxide. The project is of global significance. It involves leading Australian and international researchers working as part of CO2CRC to develop and implement a rigorous monitoring and verification program that complements the demonstration of the subsurface geosequestration technology. The project is also leading the way in defining regulatory requirements for geosequestration.
   
   
2. Demonstration of post-combustion capture (PCC) in pilot plant settings in the Latrobe Valley. CO2CRC, Loy Yang Power, International Power and CSIRO are working on a $5.6 million PCC research project that focuses on the reduction of emissions from brown coal power stations. The project involves seven interlinked research, plant testing and evaluation tasks. The Latrobe Valley Post Combustion Capture Project has the backing of the Victorian Government, which has provided $2.5 million of the project funds under the Energy Technology Innovation Strategy (ETIS). It will be conducted over a three year period.
   
   
3. Demonstration of pre-combustion carbon dioxide capture technologies for brown coal power generation in pilot plant settings in Victoria. The $4.11 million pre-combustion CO2 capture project has been made possible with a $ 2.06 million grant from the Victorian Government’s Energy Technology Innovation Strategy Brown Coal R&D Grants Program. The remainder of the funding will be provided in equal parts from CO2CRC and HRL. It will use flue gases from HRL’s pilot size IDGCC unit belonging to HRL Developments at Mulgrave in Melbourne. Researchers from Melbourne and Monash Universities will conduct the trials for various technologies. Amongst other separation technologies it includes a hot carbonate process developed by CO2CRC.