Loy Yang PCC Project

Facts:

Main developer: CSIRO

In July 2008, Australia’s national science agency CSIRO announced the successful operation of the country’s first post-combustion CO2 capture pilot plant at Loy Yang A power station in Latrobe Valley, Victoria.

The 10.5 metre-high pilot plant has been designed to capture up to 1000 tonnes of CO2 a year from the facility’s flue gases. The project is part of the Latrobe Valley Post Combustion Capture Project, with the Loy Yang component being supported by funding of A$2.5 million from the Victorian government’s Energy Technology Innovation Strategy (ETIS). The pilot plant is currently testing a range of new and existing solvents for capturing CO2 from brown coal flue gases.

Latrobe Valley Post Combustion Capture Project

This research project, focused on Latrobe Valley in Victoria, is exploring commercially viable methods of reducing CO2 emissions at brown coal-fired plants – particularly in the state of Victoria and with a focus on post combustion. CO2CRC, including researchers from Melbourne and Monash universities, Loy Yang Power, International Power and national science agency CSIRO are working together on seven linked research, plant-testing and evaluation schemes. The project is based at two power plants - Loy Yang A, operated by Loy Yang Power, and International Power’s Hazelwood facility.

In April 20121, CSIRO reported good results from PCC trials at Loy Yang, and also at Tarong power plant in Queensland. The agency says results mean the technology is now "technically available to the industry", although commentators warn that commercial-scale deployment is still some way off.

Financing

Funding of A$ 2.5 million came from the Victorian government’s ETIS fund. WorleyParsons - which provides maintenance services at Loy Yang A - was awarded A$226,000 by the Global CCS Institute in January 2012 to analyse the impact of post-combustion capture on the existing plant, as part of research to progress commercial-scale use of the technology (see ZERO news link below).

Timing

The pilot plant began operating in July 2008.  No information is currently available on progress with solvent testing.

More information and press releases

CSIRO’s press release 9 July 2008

CSIRO online video of post-combustion capture

Contact

CSIRO contact Lou Morrissey, communication manager, email Lou.Morrissey@csiro.au, or call 0061-2 4960 6140

Companies involved