Callide Oxyfuel Project
Brief description:
Facts:
To test oxyfuel combustion technology and carbon capture unit retrofitted to one of six 30MW boilers at a coal-fired power plant
COAL21 Fund
Low Emission Technology Demonstration Fund
Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate
Denison Trough
Callide-A power plant
CS Energy’s demonstration project at its coal-fired Callide A power station in Biloela, in Central Queensland aims to test the potential for low-emission electricity generation by retrofitting oxyfuel combustion technology and a carbon capture plant to one of six 30MW steam boilers.
In April 2012, CS Energy announced that the retrofitted combustion and capture technology had been commissioned and was firing successfully - a major milestone for the project. In early June, the plant began capturing CO2 from one of the steam boilers. It is one of just a few projects to take oxyfuel technology to construction stage.
The project moved into demonstration phase in December 2012, and received an additional $13 million of federal funding to help provide a total operating time of 10,000 hours. The project will now run until November 2014.
The first stage of the project is developing CO2 capture, and stage two will include the transport, injection and storage of captured and liquefied CO2. Results from the project will be used to inform how the technology can be applied at new power stations. The venture has identified potential storage sites to the west of Biloela, including a geological area known as the Denison Trough about 300km from the plant. It is estimated that the project could store up to 60,000 tonnes of CO2 over five years - the expected duration of the project.
The project is headed by CS Energy in partnership with Japan’s IHI Corporation, J-Power – which will provide project management support and expertise in low emission coal technology – and Mitsui & Co, along with Schlumberger Oilfields Australia and Xstrata Coal. It will also be supported the Australian Coal Association and the Australian and Queensland governments.
The Asia-Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate considers the Callide Oxyfuel demonstration to be a flagship project.
Financing
The total estimated cost of the project is about A$206 million. Funding is being provided by the project partners along with A$50 million from Australia’s Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund (LETDF), and financial support from the Australian Coal Association’s COAL 21 fund and the Queensland government. Further government funding of 13m was awarded in December 2012, with the remaining cost of the extension shared by ACA, J-Power, Mitsui, IHI Corporation and the Japanese Government.
Timing
The capture technology demonstration phase was extended in late December 2012 until November 2014. Power generation using the oxyfuel technology was commissioned in March/April 2012. The project contract between CS Energy and Australia’s Ministry for Resources and Energy was signed in March 2008. The second phase of the project will involve CO2 geo-sequestration.
More information and press releases
Budget not expected to impact carbon capture plant, May 14, 2014
Government funding award, 15 December 2012
Power article, 1 June 2012, CO2 capture begins
Wall Street Journal article on capture plant commissioning, 22 April 2012
Link to project press releases
Contact
Email energyinfo@csenergy.com.au or call 0061-73222 9838
Storage:
Callide 'A' Power Station is situated about 300km from a geological area known as the Denison Trough. Extensive studies have confirmed this area as an ideal site to store carbon dioxide. Large volumes of gas have been securely trapped and stored here for millions of years. The region also has a very low level of seismic activity. The liquid carbon dioxide will be pumped deep underground through rock strata into a seam of porous rock. It will be trapped in this formation with the cap rock above it providing a natural seal.