CO2 Utilisation Roadmap – Research Key to Unlocking Australia’s Potential

CSIRO’s CO₂ Utilisation Roadmap is an important document detailing Australia’s opportunities to convert carbon dioxide to useful products.

“The opportunities identified in CSIRO’s CO₂ Utilisation Roadmap highlight prospective avenues for Australia to capitalise on CCU technologies. Research and demonstration remain fundamental to creating a clear pathway to commercial deployment and deep decarbonization at scale.” said Dr Matthias Raab, Chief Executive of CO2CRC.

“CO2CRC has an active research and demonstration portfolio in areas of CO₂ utilisation, including direct air capture (DAC), Carbon Negative Hydrogen Utilisation Hub (CNHUB), and CO₂ enhanced oil recovery (CO₂-EOR).”

“Direct Air Capture technologies are maturing rapidly around the world and field deployment is required to prototype at scale. CO2CRC’s Otway International Test Centre is equipped and ready to test and demonstrate DAC units with the captured CO₂ able to be stored underground. This is yet another unique advantage for Australia to innovate, demonstrate and verify the viability of a highly prospective technology. And, we can do it faster than anywhere else in the world.”

“CO2CRC’s Carbon Negative Hydrogen Utilisation research integrates all forms of hydrogen production, storage, and CO₂ utilisation in a single centre to demonstrate a complete supply chain solution for a hydrogen and carbon negative economy, where CO₂ is either sequestered or converted into renewable biochemicals, biopolymers and biofuels.”

“CO₂-EOR has the potential to significantly reduce CO₂ emissions while improving Australia’s energy security by boosting oil recovery in mature basins. All of the injected volume of CO₂ will be permanently stored in underground reservoirs by the end of the operational life cycle.”

“GA and CO2CRC have recently concluded a basin screening study for CO₂ EOR in Australia which shows significant opportunities for permanent CO₂ storage and enhanced oil recovery in the Cooper, Surat, Gippsland, Bonaparte, and Carnarvon basins. The study shows, by optimising the CO₂ storage during the EOR project, these basins can store up to 2.5 Gt of CO₂, making it even a net-negative emissions process.” he said.