Tarong to host pilot for carbon capture

Courier Mail
Thursday 11/9/2008 Page: 64

Tarong Energy will work with CSIRO on a pilot project to capture greenhouse gases at the state's biggest power station. Mines and Energy Minister Geoff Wilson said the $5 million carbon-capture pilot was a first for Queensland with the potential to capture 1500 tonnes of CO2 emissions a year. "While we push ahead with renewable energy solutions and gas-tired power, coal will continue to play an important role in providing our power," Mr Wilson said, announcing plans for a post-combustion plant at Tarong, 45km south of Kingaroy.

"The pilot project is expected to demonstrate how to capture carbon dioxide at a large plant," he said. "It's part of a broader research program to find ways to reduce dangerous greenhouse- gas emissions from the energy sector." The two-year project will start immediately. The pilot plant is expected to begin working early next year and research associated with the technology completed in 2011.

Director of CSIRO's Energy Transformed National Research Flagship, Dr John Wright, said low-emission energy generation was a key research area for the Flagship. "About 80 per cent of the energy consumed in Australia is generated from large, coal-tired power stations," he said. Queensland Resources Council chief executive Michael Roche said the project confirmed the state's reputation for low-emission power technology development. Alongside the Callide oxyfuel and ZeroGen projects in central Queensland, the Tarong project would add to Australia's pool of knowledge and experience in the field. Mr Roche said.