Making the best use of an abundant resource
Around 85 per cent of Australia 's electricity is generated from coal. And because of its availability and low cost base, coal will continue to be our major source of electricity well into the future.
Energy use is growing dramatically. Since 1980, world electricity use has grown by approximately 50 per cent. Between 2000 and 2030, world electricity generation capacity is project to double from 3500GW to just over 7000GW. Gas and coal are expected to be the dominant fuel sources that contribute to the growth in electricity supply.
This means that, in an emissions-conscious world, the option of using clean coal technologies is critical to our future. To underline this importance, Australia is one of 17 countries that were signatories to the carbon sequestration leadership forum (CSLF) in Washington in 2003, and is a member of the IEA Greenhouse gas Program, www.cslforum.org , www.ieagreen.org.uk that is concerned with the development of technologies and strategies to achieve deep reductions in GHG emissions.
Our work is part of a massive worldwide effort.
In the US , the Bush administration has announced FutureGen, a US$1 billion initiative to build the world's first near zero emission coal supplied power station. The station will combine advanced coal gasification technologies and geological CO2 storage.
In Australia , the Coal 21 National Action Plan outlines the steps we need to take. Two Cooperative Research Centres, the CO2CRC and CRC for Coal in Sustainable development along with the CSIRO's Energy Transformed Flagship are all making significant inroads into the problem. The Centre for Low Emission Technology will contribute to the development of key enabling technologies that will support Australia's pathway towards a zero emissions future while protecting the environment and maintaining our competitively priced energy industry.