CSIRO’s low-emission coal research program today received a boost when the Prime Minister, the Hon John Howard, announced funding for the development of post-combustion capture (PCC) technology as part of the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (AP6).

PCC is a process that captures carbon dioxide (CO²) from power station flue gasses and when coupled with Co2 sequestration the technology offers potential for near-zero emissions from power stations.

CSIRO Energy Technology, as part of the Energy Transformed Flagship program, has committed significant resources to PCC research and development.

Dr David Brockway, Chief CSIRO Energy Technology, believes PCC has the potential to substantially reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of existing and future coal-fired power stations.

“In a traditional power station flue gasses leaving the boiler are filtered to remove particles but still contain around 10 to 20 per cent CO²,” Dr Brockway said. “By incorporating PCC technology we will be able to capture up to 90 per cent of the CO² and permanently bury it using the technique of geosequestration.

“The AP6 research program will complement future demonstration projects in PCC with the aim of substantially reducing the cost of the technology,” he said.

“The research utilises a portable PCC pilot plant. The 11 metre, 20-tonne PCC test rig is transportable and made its way to today’s launch on the back of a truck. This flexible technology can be retro-fitted to existing power stations and will capture 1000 tonnes per annum of CO² during the initial stages of research.”

Dr John Wright, Director Energy Transformed Flagship, explains the benefits of PCC technology.

“PCC can be retro-fitted to existing power plants and integrated into new plants to achieve a range of greenhouse gas intensity reductions down to near-zero emissions,” he said.

“It is an incredibly flexible technology that offers a lower risk when compared with competing systems. PCC also enables the integration of renewable technologies in the process and can capture CO² from a range of stationary sources such as coal and gas-fired power stations, smelters, cement kilns and steel works.

“The Energy Transformed Flagship and CSIRO are very excited to be part of the AP6 partnership strategy and we believe PCC technology offers a very real solution to the issue of energy-related greenhouse gas emissions,” Dr Wright said.