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Presentation to Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG) – University of Texas in Austin, Pickle Campus

Presentation to Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG) – University of Texas in Austin, Pickle Campus. Australia, Coal and Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) Cameron O’Reilly Fulbright Scholar, Australia US Alliance Studies 11 May, 2009. Australia & Coal – facts.

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Presentation to Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG) – University of Texas in Austin, Pickle Campus

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  1. Presentation to Bureau of Economic Geology (BEG) – University of Texas in Austin, Pickle Campus Australia, Coal and Carbon Capture & Storage (CCS) Cameron O’Reilly Fulbright Scholar, Australia US Alliance Studies 11 May, 2009

  2. Australia & Coal – facts • Australia the fourth largest producer of hard coal at 323 million tonnes – only USA, China and India larger (Australia’s population 21.5 million – source ABS) • Australia third (80%) in percentage of electricity generated from coal – only Poland and South Africa are higher • Australia the largest exporter of coal in the world at 244 million tonnes in 2007 (USA 53 million tonnes) • Coal exports made up of 112 million tonnes of steaming coal exports and 132 million tonnes of coking coal exports • Coal mix includes brown coal/lignite (Victoria) and black coal (Queensland and New South Wales) – only black coal exported Source – World Coal Institute

  3. Australia – other relevant facts • Australia also large producer of gas – LNG (mainly Western Australia) and domestic use • Australian gas reserves estimated at 4-5 billion cubic metres (source Australian Parliamentary Library) • Historic gas reserves in Cooper, Gippsland and Otway basins (gas use higher in Victoria/SA) • Growth of coal bed methane in Queensland and NSW (proposed new LNG trade from east coast) • Substantial offshore gas development underway or planned in North West shelf and Timor Sea • Gas availability has meant Western Australia electricity generation is majority gas fired • Australia also has 40% of world’s low cost uranium reserves (source AUA)

  4. Electricity Generation Sources Source:Australian Bureau of Agricultural and Resource Economics (ABARE) & US Department Of Energy, EIA Black Coal Brown Coal

  5. But Texas electricity is different Coal 36% Gas 49% Nuclear 10% Wind 4% * Hydro 1% Texas is the largest electricity market in the USA (10% of US electricity use), the highest user of coal for electricity generation and the biggest wind producer

  6. Australia’s national greenhouse gas emission sources

  7. United States national greenhouse gas emission sources Tg CO2 Eq. Source:Inventory of US Greenhouse Gas Emissions and Sinks: 1990-2006, US EPA

  8. The Greenhouse gas situation in Australia and the US Stationary energy contributes more to Australian emissions than it does to US emissions – Australia has less diversified electricity sector Both countries depend heavily on fossil fuels The transport sector contributes more to US emissions – far larger vehicle fleet Industrial processes contribute more to US emissions (and a great deal to Texas emissions) Agriculture still a relatively large emitter in both countries compared to its share of Gross Domestic Product

  9. Current initiatives Australia Draft legislation before the Australian Parliament to establish a cap and trade emissions trading system by 2011 (CPRS). Scheme coverage includes 75% of emission sources Targeted reduction in emissions of 5% below 2000 level emissions by 2020, or up to 25% if a new global agreement is reached. Ultimate aim of 60% reduction in emissions by 2050 Fixed carbon price of $10 per tonne for first year National renewable energy target of 20% by 2020 to be legislated Substantial allocation of permits to energy intense industries United States Waxman/Markey cap and trade proposal being debated in the House Committee with targeted reduction of 20% below 2005 levels by 2020 Ultimate aim of 83% reduction from 2005 emission levels by 2050 A range of proposals for State based carbon trading schemes covering California, north-west and north-east National portfolio standard under consideration in 2009 energy bill A range of direct support for renewable energy research and development in 2009 stimulus package

  10. Solutions – Carbon Capture & Storage? (CCS) CCS given high priority by Australian Government CCS would give a future to large coal reserves in US and Australia and alleviate domestic energy security concerns India and China are coal rich and CCS could therefore make the greatest difference to world emission outcomes US with over 50% of electricity produced by coal likely to be interested in CCS Over twenty states with coal interests in the US – including politically significant States for Democrats of Pennsylvania, Ohio, Michigan and Illinois Major problems seen as potential cost of CCS, scale of infrastructure, risk/liability and timetable Contentious with environmentalists but has some support from Clean Air Taskforce (CAC)

  11. Global coal reserves 2007. source BP

  12. Global oil reserves 2007. source BP

  13. CCS – Australian Initiatives – Global Carbon Capture & Storage Institute • Announced by Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd on 19 September, 2008 • Officially launched 16 April, 2009 – Australian Government funding of $100 million • Claims to have 83 supporters including 16 national governments and 40 corporates • Nick Otter announced as interim CEO • Former World Bank President James Wolfensohn the inaugural Chairman of International Advisory Council

  14. Other Australian initiatives • Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 – established property rights for storage of CO2 in offshore waters – 10 zones identified in March, 2009 • CO2CRC – Cooperative Research Centre funded by Government and industry – looking at Otway Basin Pilot Project • Coal 21 Program – initiative of coal producers and generators to fund CCS research – funded by levy on producers • Low Emissions Technology Demonstration Fund - $500 million Federal Government fund that will support some CCS pilots – includes project at Hazelwood in Victoria • Hazelwood owned by International Power which is also in Texas market • Other demonstration projects at Barrow Island in Western Australia and Monash Energy Project

  15. Victorian brown coal – the heart of Australia’s CCS challenge • Australia’s second largest State has developed major industrial base off low cost brown coal electricity • Production centred in La Trobe Valley east of Melbourne • Modelling by esaa of a carbon price found that 6,700 megawatts of Australian electricity generation would close – mainly brown coal plant in La Trobe Valley • Will cause major economic disruption and hardship in La Trobe Valley • Federal Government has now allocated $3.9 billion in transitional assistance for brown coal generators as part of ETS

  16. Victorian initiatives • Established own Clean Coal Victoria • CEO is Charlie Spiers – La Trobe Valley history – worked for Loy Yang Power • $110 million allocated by Victorian Government for pre-commercial CCS demonstration projects • $12.2 million for funding to establish CCV • Australia’s Federal Energy Minister, Martin Ferguson, comes from Victoria

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