Flagship Project: Zerogen Project
ZeroGen will be one of the world's first commercial-scale power plants producing low-emission baseload electricity using Integrated GasificationCombined Cycle (IGCC) technology with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).
ZeroGen was established by the Queensland State Government to:
- Facilitate the accelerated development and deployment of low-emission coal technologies
- Preserve the State’s competitive position in power generation and mining, and
- Capitalise on its extensive coal resources.
ZeroGen is working together with the Queensland Government, the Australian Coal Association, the Federal Government, Japan’s Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, and the Mitsubishi Corporation to accelerate the development and deployment of low-emissions power generation technology.
ZeroGen will help Queensland meet its ever-increasing demand for electricity, but for the first time in Australia, significantly reduce greenhouse emissions from coal fired power generation.
The goal
The A$4.3 billion ZeroGen project is designed to capture up to 90% of carbon dioxide emissions (CO2) and transport, by pipeline, the captured CO2 for secure storage in deep reservoirs up to 2km underground. Feasibility studies currently underway will determine the exact locations for the power plant and the storage area. Construction is planned to commence in 2012 with plant commissioning by late 2015.
The Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum (CSLF), of which the governments of both Australia and Japan are members, has recognised ZeroGen as one of the most important Carbon Capture and Storage projects in the world. It is one of the 10 new projects added in 2009 to its existing portfolio of Research and Development projects.
Government recognition
Australia’s Federal Government has also shortlisted ZeroGen for funding under its A$2 billion Carbon Capture and Storage Flagship program.
The project was declared a project of State significance by the Queensland Coordinator General in December 2009.
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