Collaborative development of the Northern Territory low-emissions carbon capture, utilisation and storage hub – a blueprint for the rapid decarbonisation of Northern Australia
Andrew Ross A * , Martin Stewart B , Chanti Richardson C and Alex Clifford CA CSIRO Australian Resources Research Centre, 26 Dick Perry Avenue, Kensington, WA 6151, Australia.
B Xodus, Level 1, 1 William Street, Perth, WA 6000, Australia.
C CSIRO Energy Centre, 10 Murray Dwyer Circuit, Mayfield West, NSW 2304, Australia.
The APPEA Journal 62 S353-S357 https://doi.org/10.1071/AJ21185
Accepted: 24 March 2022 Published: 13 May 2022
© 2022 The Author(s) (or their employer(s)). Published by CSIRO Publishing on behalf of APPEA.
Abstract
As the world increases its decarbonisation ambition, Australia is well placed to offer low emission intensity energy supplies to our region. Northern Australia’s plentiful resources mean that the region can be both an energy export and regional decarbonisation powerhouse. The Northern Territory has abundant natural gas and solar resources, significant carbon dioxide (CO2) storage capacity and proximity to international markets. This paper will summarise the development of the business case for a large-scale Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) hub based in the Northern Territory. The work is a result of a collaborative initiative to bring together experience and expertise from CSIRO, the Northern Territory Government, major gas industry emitters and engineering companies. The approach has been to develop a common vision of a low emission CCUS hub, develop an understanding of the key attributes of a hub, the development decisions, value drivers, market analysis and an understanding of potential economic outcomes that could be realised from its collaborative development. This work contemplates both initial and long-term economies of scale required to provide a pathway for decarbonisation of existing industries while providing opportunities for the development of new low-emission industries.
Keywords: CCUS, Darwin, Bonaparte, Beetaloo, energy transition, low-emissions hub, hydrogen, Middle Arm, net zero, NT LEH.
Andrew Ross is a Principal Senior Research Scientist and 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. |
Martin Stewart is a Principal Consultant at Xodus. Martin has over 35 years of engineering experience in oil and gas production and refining industries with a strong emphasis on frontend design and development planning, process and facilities engineering, and safety studies. Overall experience includes: Development planning, conceptual, frontend and detailed design; Cost estimation and economic evaluation; Operational studies; Commissioning and production support; and Process and safety related studies. |
Chanti Richardson is a Business Development Manager within the Energy Business Unit of CSIRO. She is focussed on the commercial management and delivery of major Business Unit initiatives. She has wide expertise in the delivery of government grants and granting programs. She has a Communications Degree and Master of Business Administration and joined CSIRO in 2012. |
Alex Clifford is a Senior Engineer in the Field Development Group at Xodus. He has extensive offshore construction experience within the Australian oil and gas industry on projects in Western Australia, Northern Territory, Victoria and Timor-Leste. Recently he has been focussing on CCUS developments including opportunities for the establishment of CCUS hubs. Alex joined Xodus’s parent company in 2014 and has qualifications in Ocean Engineering from the Australian Maritime College. |
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