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16/10/09ZeroGen recognised on CCS world stage
LONDON: Queensland's ZeroGen project has been internationally recognised as one of the most important carbon geostorage projects in the world.
The influential Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF) representing 22 countries has formally added the Bligh Government-owned project to its portfolio of carbon capture and storage (CCS) research projects.
Minister for Natural Resources, Mines and Energy Stephen Robertson said the listing proves Queensland is a world leader in carbon capture and storage research and development.
"ZeroGen is the only Australian project named in the new list and joins one other Australian project of international significance.
"The Bligh Government is creating a clean energy future for Queensland and this recognition demonstrates we are delivering on this goal.
"On current timelines, Zerogen is expected to be one of the first commercial-scale demonstrations of CCS with IGCC in the world."
Ten new projects have been added to the existing list of 20 projects during the meeting of CSLF Ministers in London.
Mr Robertson said the project's acceptance in such a key international forum highlighted the importance of the Queensland Government's commitment to cleaner energy and to sustainable growth of the mining industry.
"We have long ago accepted that carbon capture and storage is not just critical technology to Queensland and Australia, but to the world, if we are to tackle the challenge of global CO2 emissions.
"ZeroGen is completing pre-feasibility studies and is at the forefront of CCS technology development because of the funding and resources from the Bligh Government and the coal industry," he said.
"ZeroGen will continue to represent a key opportunity for international collaboration and investment in a leading demonstration of low emission coal technology.
"Queensland is committed to the development of this project and is actively seeking other potential funding participants to ensure the project becomes operational.
"The Bligh Government has nominated the project for financial support from the Commonwealth Government's CCS Flagship Program.
"Funding under the Commonwealth's CCS Flagship project will see the Australian Government partner the Queensland Government and ACALET in the continued development of ZeroGen."
ZeroGen will combine CCS with an Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) industrial scale power plant designed by Mitsubishi Heavy Industries to produce low-emission baseload electricity from coal that will be designed to capture up to 90% of the CO2 emissions.
The CSLF is an international climate change initiative comprised of ministers from 22 sovereign governments, representing more than 60 percent of the world's population. The CSLF aims to bring together developed and developing nations with the objective of working together to reduce global CO2 emissions.
"To achieve recognition at the CSLF projects must be nominated by the governments of at least two CSLF member nations.
"ZeroGen was nominated by the Australian and Japanese Governments," Mr Robertson said.
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Last Updated 03 November 2009
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