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Journal of the Australian Petroleum Production & Exploration Association (APPEA)
RESEARCH ARTICLE (Non peer reviewed)

The Northern Territory low-emissions carbon capture, utilisation and storage hub development – the collaborative business case development

Andrew Stuart Ross A * , Matthew Ironside A and Ryan Gee A
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A CSIRO, Australian Resources Research Centre, 26 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington, WA 6151, Australia.

* Correspondence to: Andrew.Ross@csiro.au

The APPEA Journal 63 S446-S449 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ22210
Accepted: 15 February 2023   Published: 11 May 2023

© 2023 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of APPEA.

Abstract

The Commonwealth Science and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO), Northern Territory Government, and Industry are working collaboratively on developing the business case for a carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) hub based on the Middle Arm of Darwin Harbour. This business case is following the development vision developed by government and industry which incorporates, Northern Territory industrial development goals and those of the gas companies to chart a course for rapid decarbonisation of the energy and industrial sectors of the Northern Territory. The business case is focussed on three key elements; Part 1 – macro-economics, emissions, markets and best practice CCUS hub examples; Part 2 – CCUS hub technical definition and technical risk reduction studies; and Part 3 – Hub economic models and execution plans. These activities aim to understand the viability of the development of a 25 million ton CO2 storage and utilisation hub by 2040. Work on the business case is well underway and this paper will provide a progress update, with particular focus on the activities associated with part 1 of the business case.

Keywords: Beetaloo, Bonaparte, CCUS, Darwin, emissions, energy transition, hydrogen, low-emissions hub, middle arm, middle arm sustainable development precinct, net zero, Northern Territory, Northern Territory low-emission hub.

Andrew Ross is a Principal Senior Research Scientist and Group Leader at CSIRO. He leads multidisciplinary research projects on basin geology, marine geology and marine monitoring. Recently he has been focussed technology commercialisation, CO2 storage and monitoring, and development of CCUS and hydrogen hubs. Dr Ross joined CSIRO in 2004 and has qualifications in marine biology, oceanography and petroleum geoscience.

Matthew Ironside is Research Manager in the Energy Division at CSIRO. He leads commercial and technoeconomic analysis in carbon capture and storage, energy storage and direct air capture. Recently he has been focussed on CCUS hubs, CO2 storage and monitoring, and compressed air energy storage. Matt joined CSIRO in 2021 with a commercial background in oil and gas. Matt has qualifications in finance and economics.

Ryan Gee is a Data Analyst at CSIRO. He supports the CSIRO Energy Business Unit, through data collection, analysis, and mapping. Recently his work has been focussed on supporting a range of carbon capture and storage projects. Ryan joined CSIRO in February 2022 and has extensive petroleum data and GIS experience.


References

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Ross A (2022) Concurrent 8. Presentation for: Collaborative development of the Northern Territory low-emissions carbon capture, utilisation and storage hub – a blueprint for the rapid decarbonisation of Northern Australia. The APPEA Journal 62,
Concurrent 8. Presentation for: Collaborative development of the Northern Territory low-emissions carbon capture, utilisation and storage hub – a blueprint for the rapid decarbonisation of Northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |

Ross  A, Stewart  M, Richardson  C, Clifford  A (2022) Collaborative development of the Northern Territory low‐emissions carbon capture, utilisation and storage hub – a blueprint for the rapid decarbonisation of Northern Australia. The APPEA Journal 62, S353–S357.
Collaborative development of the Northern Territory low‐emissions carbon capture, utilisation and storage hub – a blueprint for the rapid decarbonisation of Northern Australia.Crossref | GoogleScholarGoogle Scholar |