Carbon capture efforts `stalled'

Canberra Times
Tuesday 8/7/2008 Page: 2

Coal-based electricity generators are stalling the development of geosequestration opportunities, the Government's chief climate change adviser says.

At his first public meeting to discuss his draft climate change report, Professor Ross Garnaut said new geosequestration technologies, which enable the capture and storage of greenhouse pollutants, could eventually bring forward timetables on the lowering of carbon emissions. "The coal-based electricity generators don't want to acknowledge the possibility of doing anything early because their case for compensation and free permits and so on depends on there not being low emissions alternatives," Professor Garnaut told the Perth forum.

"My own assessment is that if we put a lot of resources in to support for (the) research, development and commercialisation of geosequestration technologies we could possibly end up with much better timetables than have been discussed." Professor Garnaut told Greens senator Scott Ludlam that while there was a risk that renewable energy would be pushed to the margins, there would be other incentives to help new technologies come onto the market.

"One is the price on carbon which means that the resource will be more competitive.... the second is the.... funding for research development and the commercialisation of new technologies.... the third (is a) commitment to.... the rationalisation of the electricity grids to make sure that there's no systematic exclusion of new sources of electricity because they're in locations away from the established grids," he said.

The Australian Energy Supply Association, which represents Australia's electricity and downstream gas businesses, attacked Professor Garnaut's claim that coal-based electricity generators were not interested in developing geosequestration technologies.

The association's chief executive, Brad Page, said Professor Garnaut did not appear to be aware of the research work already being undertaken within the industry. "That is the most outrageous, unfounded comment I've ever heard," Mr Page said. "It demeans the man."