March 15, 2023
Earlier this week, the Future Energy Exports Cooperative Research Centre (FEnEx CRC) hosted a highly interactive workshop which focussed on recent advances in industrial decarbonisation associated with carbon, capture and storage (CCS).
With over 100 attendees coming from as far afield as Japan, Norway, and UK, the invitation-only gathering highlighted the growing momentum for CCS as an essential tool for emissions reduction and an economic enabler.
Supported by the Western Australian Department of Jobs, Tourism, Science and Innovation (JTSI) and the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association (APPEA), FEnEx CRC CEO Eric May said the event’s objective was to improve the understanding of how CCS is being approached elsewhere and to capitalise on the lessons learned in Australia and abroad.
“Our plan was to bring together a number of the world’s leading CCS experts to share their experiences, learn about new capabilities and discuss emerging challenges,” he said.
“We will work our way through these lessons and map out a plan forward – but a key theme that emerged was the need to broaden the conversation about CCS out from those in the oil and gas industry to others in key hard-to-abate sectors including cement, steel and other heavy industry.
“Clearly CCS presents an opportunity to decarbonise Australia’s energy exports like LNG, but we need to ensure its role in managing emissions for industrial processes that have no known technological alternatives, such as cement, is also better accepted and understood.”
During the day a range of presentations covered topics including:
- Emerging technologies in the global CCS industry
- Current and emerging Australian and international CCS laws and regulations
- Social licence considerations
- Lessons learned from some of the world’s largest CCS projects
The FEnEx CRC would like to thank all of the speakers and their organisations for participating. These included Japan Oil, Gas and Metals National Corporation (JOGMEC), Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, GE Gas Power, Norway’s SINTEF, PACE CCS, the North Sea Transition Authority, the Global CCS Institute, APPEA, the Department of Industry, Science and Resources (DISR), the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, Curtin University as well as Chevron, Shell and Woodside. The level of engagement and participation by the audience was very encouraging.
Special thanks to WA Chief Scientist Professor Peter Klinken for kick-starting the day with a challenge to regain the narrative on the important topic of CCS!