Victoria the ideal site for a scale demonstration CCS project [16.04.2009]
Victoria’s Latrobe Valley is the ideal location for a scale coal CCS project, even on a world scale, and should be considered a top priority, according to the Committee for Melbourne’s CEO, Ms Sally Capp.
“We need to act now on CCS, and the best place to do that is in Victoria,” Ms Capp said.
This morning Prime Minister Kevin Rudd will launch the Federal Government's new Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute, which will manage a $100 million research effort to demonstrate clean coal technology.
Former World Bank chief, Mr James Wolfensohn, will chair the panel that will oversee the goal of bringing 20 carbon capture and storage projects online and proven within the next decade.
Ms Capp said carbon capture and storage is about long term reductions in greenhouse gas emissions, security around the delivery long term of energy supplies and preserving the value of Australia’s coal resources and jobs related to that industry.
Victoria wants to be the first State to get a project up and running, she said. The Committee for Melbourne has already been working on bringing the major players together to prepare for a project to begin.
The Latrobe Valley’s unique combination of abundant coal reserves (up to 500 years at current usage levels), cluster of high emitters (four major brown coal-fired generators) and known large storage sites in the adjacent on and off-shore Gippsland basin, mean that a demonstration project could be established here more quickly than in other locations and at lower cost, she said.
“There is a lot of support from the Victorian business community and our universities to work with the Government on a scale sized project,” Ms Capp said.
The benefits to Victoria include creating long term value for the State’s brown coal assets, opportunities to showcase our R&D capability, potential new industries and new jobs for Victoria, attracting international interest and recognition of Victoria’s leadership in this area.
To get a scale demonstration project up and running in Victoria Ms Capp said we need:
Funding support to be secured;
Legal and legislative frameworks to be put in place including bringing forward Victorian legislation for exploration for onshore storage;
Establish onshore storage areas and pipeline infrastructure; and
Build community understanding and support as to why this project is so important.