Energy from Coal

We provide the solutions that keep Australia’s minerals industry on the world stage.

The Energy Transformed Flagship is developing clean affordable energy and transport technologies for a sustainable future - the first steps towards a hydrogen economy.

Australia is not in a position to reliably track changes in its environment caused by climate change and other threats due to a lack of critical ‘baseline’ data and long-term monitoring programs, according to three experts quoted in the latest issue of Ecos (143, June-July 2008).

CSIRO scientists with the Minerals Down Under National Research Flagship have successfully used an electronic listening post to track and control a drill operating more than 300 metres below the Earth’s surface.

The fifth international conference on computational fluid dynamics (CFD) will provide a forum to explore the breadth and application of CFD modelling in the process industries.

CSIRO’s alternative transport fuels research explores the feasibility of alternatives to traditional fuel types, such as petrol or diesel, and looks at the possible biophysical, social and economic impacts of their production and adoption.

CSIRO research facilitates the development and implementation of coal gasification technologies as a key technology platform for the transition to high efficiency coal based power systems capable of operating with near zero emissions.

CSIRO delivers science solutions vital to a globally competitive and sustainable energy industry with a primary focus on oil, gas and geothermal energy resources.

We are focusing skills our skills on developing post-combustion capture technology for reducing emissions from coal-fired power stations. Our capabilities include solvent development, CO² capture and sequestration and emissions monitoring and a relocatable pilot plant for solvent testing.

A video demonstrating the post-combustion capture process that captures CO₂ from power station flue gases. (4:00)

The Flagship’s work in the area of low emission electricity centres upon the generation of ‘near-zero greenhouse gas’ electricity. (0:38)

Dr Luke Connell is the stream leader for field development and processing and the team leader for coal seam reservoirs. His research includes reservoir simulation and characterisation of coal seam gas reservoirs.

Dr Chris Dyt combines mathematics with geology to produce software that models physical processes, such as the flow of fluids.

Energymark provides individuals with an opportunity to learn and act on climate change and energy. Register to be a group convenor today!

Drawing on years of experience in research and industry, CSIRO’s gas and isotope geochemistry capability underpins research into natural gas distributions, source of gas and oil, non-hydrocarbon gas avoidance, coal seam methane exploration and production, as well as carbon capture and storage applications. (2 pages)

Post combustion capture (PCC), a process that captures CO₂ from power station flue gases, is a key technology with the potential to substantially reduce the greenhouse gas intensity of existing and future coal power stations.

A fact sheet on the occurrence of zinc in Australian and other coals, the behaviour of zinc during combustion and the environmental effects of zinc released as a consequence of coal use.