Scope
Australia’s journey to net-zero emissions represents one of the largest and most complex industry shifts we are likely to see in our lifetimes. This transition needs a suite of technologies that transcend the standard combination of efficiency improvement and renewable energy deployment. This includes carbon management technologies to address existing emissions from transport and industrial processes.
Our strategic vision
We develop cost-effective, environmentally friendly and widely applicable CO₂ enabling materials and technologies for carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS). Our solutions retrofit facilities, synthesise carbon-neutral/negative products and recycle CO₂ emissions to support a circular carbon economy and Australia’s decarbonisation efforts.
Our integrated carbon management program involves aqueous absorbents to create competitive CCUS technologies. These technologies target CO₂-separation at all concentration levels (process gas, flue gas and air). They are ideal for Post Combustion Capture (PCC), Direct Air Capture (DAC) that utilises gas-liquid contact, and DAC coupled with solar thermal (SIMiDAC) for high end-use applications.
Our integrated carbon management program.
Capabilities
Our key capabilities and expertise include laboratory experimental trials, characterisation and analysis, pilot plant design, engineering, and operation. Our focus has been on liquid-based processes, process design and modelling including multiphysics, techno-economic analysis, capture technology assessment and life cycle assessment (LCA). We operate a process development facility at our main site – CSIRO ENERGY Newcastle and access our pilot plant facilities off-site in New South Wales, Queensland, and Victoria.
- We have constructed and demonstrated Post Combustion Capture (PCC) pilot plants in Australia and China.
- Laboratory research has identified improved efficiencies from testing more than 100 novel solvents, ionic liquids, solid absorbents and enzyme technologies.
Technology deployment and Impact
Our focus on amine-based processes provides unique research development and demonstration (RD&D) capacity in Australia. Through validation of the design, costs and performance of our technologies, we have demonstrated stability and high capacity for cycling between absorption and desorption. Our pilot plant approach is also unique and has attracted strong industry engagement, confirming CSIRO’s bridging role between fundamental research and industrial demonstration.
The capture research program received $100M research investment in CO₂-capture over a 15-year period resulting in the development and commercialisation of an innovative amine-technology with excellent energy performance and superior robustness that lends itself uniquely for application in the hard-to-abate sectors such cement & lime, steel and aluminium.
Timeline of the deployment of our PPC technologies.
Comparative advantages
- High CO₂-purity
- Dispersed low-cost CO₂ collection devices
- Centralised regeneration of liquids
- Overall process can be designed/built using available materials/equipment
- High confidence in cost estimates