Mar 24, 2010 -- M2 PRESSWIRE



Governor Freudenthal, whose State is the number one coal producer in the United States and produces more coal than Australia, is working with a task force set up by US President Obama to deliver a federal strategy on carbon capture and storage.

The visit focused on CSIRO's coal gasification and low emissions technology research facilities at the Queensland Centre for Advanced Technologies (QCAT). Coal gasification enables electricity production from coal at higher efficiencies than traditional technologies, and provides an attractive foundation for capturing carbon dioxide from power generation.

The University of Wyoming, GE and the Wyoming State Government are establishing a major coal gasification research facility. The purpose of the visit was to share information with CSIRO researchers and discuss the challenges associated with gasification technology implementation and the way forward for the widespread deployment of economical and low emissions coal systems.

The QCAT gasification facilities are part of CSIRO's coal technology research, which is focused on improving the safety and efficiency of underground coal mining and accelerating the deployment of low emission coal-based power technologies.

'CSIRO is researching technologies that will facilitate a transition to high-efficiency coal-based power systems capable of operating with very low greenhouse emissions,' CSIRO coal research Theme Leader Dr David Harris said.

'It was a pleasure to have hosted the Governor of Wyoming and the delegation at our gasification facilities.

'The visit presented a wonderful opportunity to progress international collaboration between two nations with significant coal resources, who are working towards the common goal of mitigating climate change.

'These visits are important because they bring together government, industry and research providers to find solutions that will have a significant impact on the international challenge to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.'

Coal is Australia's largest export commodity and a major contributor to the national economy. It is the primary fuel for power generation worldwide and provides about 80 per cent of Australia's electricity supply.

CONTACT: Dr David HarrisTheme Leader, Energy Technology, Coal Technology Tel: +61 7 3327 4617 Tel: +61 7 3327 4444 Fax: +61 7 3327 4606 e-mail: David.Harris@csiro.au Ms Linley Davis, Communications Manager, Energy Technology, CSIRO Coal Technology Tel: +61 2 4960 6116 Tel: +61 0417 772 480 Fax: +61 2 4960 6054 e-mail: Linley.Davis@csiro.au

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