Power station captures CO2 from flue gases

The A$5m (£3m) PCC demonstration project is a partnership between CSIRO and Tarong Energy Corporation.

PCC uses a liquid solvent to capture CO₂ from power-station flue gases and has the potential to reduce CO₂ emissions from coal-fired power stations by more than 80 per cent.

The pilot plant is designed to capture approximately 1,000 tonnes of CO₂ per annum. It will evaluate the effectiveness of CO₂ capture using amine-based solvents and may help researchers develop efficient and economical PCC technology at a commercial scale.

Graham Carpenter, chair at Tarong Energy, said that if the trial is successful, the PCC technology has the potential to lead to a reduction in greenhouse gas emissions from not only Tarong Power Station, but also from other coal-fired generators throughout Queensland and Australia.

The pilot plant was officially launched by Queensland’s minister for natural resources, mines and energy, Stephen Robertson MP. The project received funding from the Australian government as part of the Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate programme, which includes two other PCC pilot plants operating in Victoria and China.