Facts:

Main developer: CSIRO

In December 2010, Australia’s national science agency CSIRO and Tarong Energy announced the first capture of CO2 at Tarong Power Station in Queensland - using post-combustion capture technology. The A$5 million pilot plant will test the use of amine-based solvents and aims to capture at a rate of 1500 tonnes per annum of CO2 from flue gases at the coal-fired facility. Trials are expected to be carried out until June 2011.

Tarong PCC is one of two Australian pilots being run by CSIRO as part of the Asia Pacific Partnership (APP) on Clean Development and Climate’s project CFE-06-06, which is testing post-combustion CO2 capture for coal-fired power plants. The second pilot is Munmorah PCC.

In April 2012, CSIRO reported good results from the PCC capture trials at Tarong, as well as Loy Yang in New South Wales (also under CSIRO's research remit). The agency said results meant the technology was now "technically available to the industry", although commentators said commercial-scale use was still some way off. 

Transport and sequestration does not form part of the project but, if potential storage sites are identified and the trials are successful, the project could lead to significant reductions in CO2 emissions at the plant.was hailed as a major milestone for Queensland and Australia.

Financing

CSIRO and Tarong Energy have each contributed A$2.5 million to the project. The Australian government is providing a total of A$12 million towards the overall APP project.

Timing

Design of the pilot plant was carried out in 2009, with construction and start-up happening in 2010.

More information and press releases

CSIRO press release, 2 December 2010

CSIRO press release on 9 Sept 2008 announcing project

APP project roster with links to project update

Companies involved

Persons involved in the project: