Victorian CO2 capture an Australian first
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9 July 2008
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CO2 has been captured in Victoria’s Latrobe Valley from coal fired electricity generation for the first time in Australia, providing a significant breakthrough in the development of carbon capture technology.
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The Latrobe Valley Post Combustion Capture Project uses technology which separates carbon dioxide from power plant flue gas, so it is then ready to be stored deep underground.
The $5.6 million project is a joint collaboration between Loy Yang Power, International Power Hazelwood, the Victorian Government and researchers from the CO2CRC and the CSIRO.
Victorian Energy and Resources Minister, Peter Batchelor, said the important milestone in testing carbon capture technology has the potential to substantially reduce greenhouse gas emissions from coal fired electricity generation.
“The Brumby Government is taking action on climate change and this project is a great example of what can be achieved when industry, government and research organisations work together,” Mr Batchelor said.
“The CO2 has been captured through the CSIRO research stream of the Latrobe Valley Post Combustion Capture Project, which is operating at Loy Yang Power and is capable of capturing up to 1000 tonnes of CO2 per year. The second research stream for the project, with the CO2CRC, will be installed at International Power, Hazelwood, later this year.
“The technology being used at Loy Yang is portable, so it can literally be put on the back of a truck and transported to another power station.
“This means the system, if it proves successful, can be easily transferred to other power stations to refine the technology to the individual power station’s needs, before it is permanently put in place.
“The Victorian Government provided $2.5 million for this project last year under the Energy Technology Innovation Strategy to help accelerate the development of this technology.
“Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) technology is recognised around the world as a way of potentially making deep cuts to greenhouse gas emissions.
“Collaborative research projects such as the Latrobe Valley Post Combustion Capture Project are vital to ensure CCS technology is fully developed and tested, so we can capitalise on this emerging sector,” he said.
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