ZeroGen is leading global efforts to integrate the technologies of Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) with Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) to produce low-emission, baseload electricity.
While both are established technologies in their own right, IGCC and CCS have never before been integrated at commercial-scale for power generation. ZeroGen's world-first integration of these technologies will produce low-emission electricity by capturing and safely storing carbon dioxide (CO2).
Through its commitment to developing a world-first low-emission technology using coal, ZeroGen is demonstrating environmental leadership on a global scale, while at the same time supporting the future of one of the world's most abundant resources.
First-of-a-kind commercial-scale low-emission power plant
ZeroGen has received approval to begin feasibility studies to accelerate the development of what is anticipated to be the world's first commercial-scale IGCC with CCS power plant. The baseload plant is expected to be operational in Queensland in late 2015, which fast tracks the original deployment date by two years.
ZeroGen had originally planned to first build a demonstration plant, however following discussions with project stakeholders a new opportunity emerged to proceed directly to commercial-scale.
Japan-based Mitsubishi Corporation (MC) and Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (MHI) will join the project to provide IGCC and carbon capture technology for the power plant. MHI is a world leader in IGCC technology and has provided a single EPC (engineering, procurement and construction) contract for a 250MW demonstration-scale plant in Nakoso, Japan. The plant has successfully completed its initial target, 2,000 hours continuous operation, which is an exceptional performance by a coal-based IGCC facility so early in its operational life. The ZeroGen commercial-scale plant will be a scaled-up version of the Nakoso plant, but will include carbon capture for the first time.
The partnership with MC and MHI has been a key factor in allowing the project to proceed directly to commercial-scale, as it significantly reduces the technology risks for ZeroGen thereby enabling a quicker, safer and more cost-effective strategy to deployment.
Royal Dutch Shell continues to support ZeroGen's CO2 injection testing program as part of its global efforts to develop and deploy CCS technology.
ZeroGen has been endorsed by a number of leading national and international entities including the Queensland Government, Australian Coal Association, WWF-Australia, CFMEU, World Coal Institute, the Global CCS Institute and officially recognised by the Carbon Sequestration Leadership Forum.
Drilling Program
As part of the feasibility study undertaken for the original demonstration project, drilling investigation of geological sites began in June 2006 in the Northern Denison Trough located in the Springsure/Emerald region in Central Queensland.
The goal of the drilling program is to carry out the necessary scientific procedures to understand the local geology of the Northern Denison Trough and confirm its ability to safely and securely store carbon dioxide (CO2).
In mid 2007, ZeroGen announced positive results from the first stage of its drilling program and confirmed the geology was suitable to safely store CO2. The program is currently in the second stage of its drilling program and is aiming to identify specific reservoirs with sufficient capacity to store CO2. ZeroGen will test injection of CO2 into the reservoirs to allow it to conduct a series of further studies which will include CO2 monitoring and verification techniques, and injection optimisation.
Fast facts
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ZeroGen commercial-scale power plant
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- Planned deployment date of late 2015
- Will be a 530 megawatt (gross) power plant
- The technology has potential to capture and store up to 90% of CO2 for full sequestration
- Mitsubishi Heavy Industries will provide technology for the IGCC power plant and carbon capture
- The power plant location will be determined as part of a pre-feasibility study
- CO2 will be captured at site and transported to a storage location that will be determined as part of a feasibility study.
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Where to from here?
The focus for ZeroGen will now be the identification of a suitable location for the commercial-scale IGCC power plant and CO2 storage site.
Several locations within Queensland are being investigated.
The final locations for the IGCC power plant and CO2 storage site will be determined through a pre-feasibility study, scheduled for completion in June 2010.
Following the completion of the pre-feasibility study, a feasibility study will commence and is expected to be completed in September 2011.
Timing:
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Pre-feasibility study completion
Feasibility study completion
Plant operational
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June 2010
September 2011
late 2015
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