Clean coal mission shows long-term future for industry

17/2/03
Energy Minister Eric Ripper today said coal was likely to remain a long-term source of domestic energy in Western Australia, despite the increased use of natural gas in the electricity market.
But Mr Ripper said the coal industry had to embrace technological change to ensure it met contemporary environmental standards.
Releasing the WA report of a 23-member Australian mission to the United States and Canada to investigate clean coal technology, the Minister said international research advances showed coal had a viable future.
"If we can continue to develop clean coal technologies and introduce them in WA, then there is no reason why coal should not have a viable long-term future as part of the State's energy mix," he said.
"There are sound strategic and security reasons why we should have diversity in energy supply. Over-dependence on any one fuel source opens WA up to greater economic risk."
Mr Ripper said coal currently accounted for 40 per cent of total fuel used for private and public power generation in WA, and accounted for 85 per cent of power generation nationwide.
"Promoting renewable energy and the use of gas is only part of the answer to reducing greenhouse gas emissions," he said.
"But while much of the world - including Australia - depends on coal for power generation, we must also invest in clean coal technology if we are to make significant progress in reducing emissions."
Mr Ripper said a representative of the State Government's Office of Energy took part in the mission last October with officials from the Queensland, Victorian, and New South Wales governments and industry and research organisations.
The mission aimed to develop a better understanding of US and Canadian zero emission and clean coal technology and policies and identify technologies that could be used for demonstration plants in Australia.
It also sought to establish research and development alliances and promote Australia's clean coal technology capabilities.
The Minister said the mission focussed on coal gasification for power generation, carbon dioxide capture and geological sequestration.
"Put simply, coal can be transformed into synthetic gas comprising carbon monoxide and hydrogen through a process known as gasification," he said.
"The synthetic gas can be used as a fuel in gas turbines to generate electricity. It can also be used to produce chemicals and clean fuels, including hydrogen for use in hydrogen fuel cells.
"The carbon dioxide generated in the process may be separated and used to enhance oil production or stored in geological formations, such as depleted oil and gas reservoirs."
Copies of the report and executive summary are available at http://www.energy.wa.gov.au
Minister's office: 9222 8788