Facts:

Main developer: Aviva Corp.

The Coolimba Power Project, being developed by Aviva Corporation and AES, aims to build a new 2x200 MW oxyfuel-ready power station near Eneabba in the mid west of Western Australia. The project is designed with the potential to capture and store up to 90 per cent of its CO2 emissions, and incorporates plans to phase in up to 2.9 million tonnes a year of CCS – for up to 30 years – as a separate project, when feasible.

Coolimba could become one of the first commercial-scale CCS projects in Australia. It is well placed within the region’s energy hub, close to two major gas pipelines and the Perth Basin gas fields. Fuel would be sourced from the Central West coal deposit 15 kilometres south of Eneabba. The project would be a third major energy source for the region’s electricity grid. As well as the coal-fired plant, approval is being sought for up to 360MW of gas-fired power generation.

In July 2010, Australia’s Environment Ministry approved the project in part after assessing environmental approval appeals. Although the decision does not allow it to go ahead as an independent project, Aviva can now seek other interested partners. The Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) had already recommended approval in March, subject to strict conditions.

Financing

The Coolimba Power Project is estimated to cost around A$1 billion.

Timing

The project is awaiting the final report from CO2CRC on potential carbon storage sites. The recent EPA and government approvals should allow further progress. However, no further details are currently available.

More information and press releases

Link to Coolimba overview on project website

Link to Coolimba factsheet on CCS

Link to 14 July 2010 Aviva press release on approvals

Contact info

Call Coolimba project on 0061-8 9367 2344

Storage:

Suitable sites for long-term storage of CO2 still need to be chosen. In 2008, Aviva commissioned the Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies (CO2CRC) to assess potential in the mid west of Western Australia. Initial results of the study have identified the depleted gas reservoirs Beharra Springs, Dongara and Woodada in the Perth Basin as potential storage sites. More research is needed into several deep saline reservoirs. 

Companies involved

Homepage:

http://www.coolimbapower.com.au/