Clean coal agreement with China

Australia and China have signed an international agreement for clean coal research.

The agreement, between CSIRO and China’s Thermal Power Research Institute (TPRI), will see TPRI install, commission and operate a post combustion capture pilot plant at the Huaneng Beijing Co-Generation Power Plant as part of CSIRO’s research program.

Post combustion capture (PCC) is a process that uses a liquid to capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) from power station flue gases and is a key technology that can potentially reduce carbon dioxide emissions from existing and future coal-fired power stations by more than 85%.

The pilot plant is designed to capture 3000 tonnes per annum of CO₂ from the power station and begins the process of adapting this technology to evaluate its effectiveness in Chinese conditions.

“This project is part of a major research program to identify ways to significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions from the energy sector,” director of CSIRO’s Energy Transformed National Research Flagship, Dr John Wright said.

“Climate change is a critical issue for Australia and internationally, and we’re delighted to be working with TPRI to help find solutions to this global challenge.

“The project will focus on assessing the performance of an amine-based PCC pilot plant under Chinese conditions. It will allow PCC technology to be progressed in the Chinese energy sector which will have a much greater impact than operating in Australia alone.

“Our Chinese partners are aiming for the Beijing pilot plant to be up and running before August this year.”