Renewables and Hydrogen

Low Emissions Electricity and Competitive Coal

Clean power and improved efficiency for current energy generation

The ideal power plant of the future will have near zero greenhouse gas and pollutant emissions. In partnership with industry and governments, CSIRO Energy Technology is developing new clean coal technologies to dramatically reduce greenhouse gas emissions, in combination with techniques to clean carbon from emissions and store it safely.

Our research provides technical data and expertise to support the use of Australian coal in advanced, low emission power generation technologies and to assist in optimising the processes of existing power stations.

This work also includes research on the sequestration of CO2 in coal. We are a major research contributor to the CRC for Coal in Sustainable Development. We are also the major research contributor to the recently established $26M, Queensland based Centre for Low Emission Technology (cLET). The centre focuses on key aspects of coal gasification and the gas cleaning, processing and separation technologies necessary for hydrogen production and CO2 capture from advanced coal-based power technologies. These are key technologies that will lead to lower cost, near zero-emission power generation systems. CSIRO also undertakes CO2 sequestration research in conjunction with the Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies (CO2 CRC).

Core competencies

• assessing the suitability of fuel for advanced power generation technologies;
• process and system modelling for energy applications;
• technical and economic assessment of energy and energy-related processes;
• expertise in the study of reactions at high pressures and temperatures, including processes involving toxic or hazardous materials; and
• experience in assessing the greenhouse gas impacts and mitigation options for power generation systems, including full fuel cycle analyses

Low Emissions Electricity and Competitive Coal - Project Areas