A REPORT has highlighted the achievements of coal researchers into the sustainable development of coal.
The Towards Sustainable Energy report was released on Monday, focusing on the achievements of the Cooperative Research Centre for Coal into Sustainable Development (CCSD) over the past seven years.
Long before the term ‘clean coal’ had been coined, the CCSD and its predecessor, the Black Coal Cooperative Research Centre, were laying the foundations for a low emissions future.
Wesfarmers Premier Coal has supported the CCSD since its inception seven years ago.
The CCSD is regarded as a world-class research centre and one that has made significant contributions to Australian coal, a vital source of fuel for power generation and the country’s largest export commodity.
Its work has not been limited to research and over the years it has been involved with strategic decision making, supported the uptake of new technologies and educated people on the role of coal in the future.
Wesfarmers Premier Coal general manager Patrick Warrand said the work undertaken by the CCSD was both groundbreaking and world leading.
“What CCSD did was to harness a significant research effort into coal and its future use, which has really set the industry up well to meet the challenges of the future,” Mr Warrand said.
Wesfarmers Premier Coal has been an active member of the board and research committees and contributed about $750,000 over seven years to the cause, to allow CCSD to continue its scientific work in developing a role for coal in a sustainable future.
A major achievement recently announced by State Resources Minister Francis Logan was the results of pilot studies into the gasification of Australian coals.
Wesfarmers Premier Coal supplied the coal, showing that Collie coal contained very favourable properties for gasification.
“CCSD has been a truly collaborative effort between the research community and industry working together for a sustainable future and everyone involved should be proud of their achievements,” Mr Warrand said.
“Due to efforts of these world-class scientists we have a fantastic scientific foundation upon which to develop sustainable uses for coal in the future.”
Griffin Coal business development manager Ian Pigott said his company’s commitment to the environment and the long-term sustainability of the Collie coal industry was also of the utmost importance.
“Griffin has provided funding for research into new clean coal technology through the CCSD, as well as its predecessor,” he said.
This included high-level research into gasification, carbon capture and storage and other leading-edge technologies to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired generation.
Mr Pigott said Griffin had also participated in a number of CCSD research projects, and believed the CCSD had made substantial and important progress in the development of clean coal technologies.
The CCSD’s term is about to expire, so to continue its efforts to improve the long-term viability of the coal industry, and the Collie community, Griffin has joined the IEA Clean Coal Centre.
This is an international organisation conducting similar research into clean coal technologies.
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