Institute to develop CCS lauched

Prime Minister Kevin Rudd formally launched the Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute (GCCSI) at the inaugural meeting of institute foundation members in Canberra on 16 April 2009. The government announced the institute back in September 2008 with annual funding of up to $100 million to accelerate the deployment of commercial-scale CCS projects globally.

Mr Rudd spoke of the importance to respond to the realities of climate change, reducing Australian carbon pollution, helping to shape a global solution and adapting to the impacts of climate change that we cannot avoid. “The institute recognises the cold hard reality that coal will be the major source of power generation for many years to come — with the 2008 IEA World Energy Outlook forecasting that the share of electricity generation sourced from coal will rise from 41 to 44% by 2030,” he said.

The institute is being established by the government to accelerate the deployment of carbon capture and storage (CCS) technology globally and the sharing of information. It has already received strong and widespread international support with 85 bodies — including 16 national governments and more than 40 major companies — signing on as foundation members and collaborating participants. More members are expected to join by 1 July 2009 when the institute will become a separate legal entity.

Nick Otter has been appointed as interim CEO of the institute. Otter has been setting up and running the institute since January, when he was seconded from his position as Director of Technology and External Affairs at Alstom Power. Otter will be working closely with existing international and regional forums, particularly the International Energy Agency and Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum, in order to define their separate roles and responsibilities, to maximise their positive impact.

The government recently appointed the former head of World Bank, James D Wolfensohn, to the position of Chair of the International Advisory. The Prime Minister said, “Jim Wolfensohn brings vast experience and international influence and strategic vision to the institute.”

The GCCSI will play a key role — along with the International Energy Agency and the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum — in achieving the G8 group's goal of the broad deployment of CCS technology by 2020.

A number of participants in the institute have praised the strong leadership from the government in establishing this institute. Xstrata Coal Chief Executive Peter Freyberg said, ”The multi-party approach of the institute ensures government, technology providers and industry are working together to make the development of CCS technology a priority and part of a balanced and cooperative approach to addressing climate change.”

Whereas, on the negative side, Greenpeace climate campaigners have been reported as saying more money should be spent on renewable energy alternatives instead.