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AusGeo News June 2010 Issue No. 98
Close collaboration on carbon capture and storage
Scientists from Geoscience Australia are collaborating with researchers from China on a capacity-building project that focuses on the geological storage of carbon dioxide (CO²). Known as the China-Australia Geological Storage of CO² Project (CAGS) it aims to build expertise and accelerate the development of the technology in both countries.
Geoscience Australia, in conjunction with the Australian Government's Department of Resources, Energy and Tourism, is working in collaboration with the Administrative Centre for China's Agenda 21 in the Ministry of Science and Technology and other partner organisations in China. As part of the Project, Geoscience Australia hosted a technical workshop on geological storage of carbon dioxide in January 2010. The workshop, which was held in Canberra, was attended by more than 60 delegates from China, Australia, the United Kingdom, and the United States (figure 1).
Figure 1. Participants at the CAGS workshop held at Geoscience Australia, Canberra, in January 2010 [copyright Geoscience Australia].
'This is an important project which aims to strengthen the ties between Australian and Chinese researchers for collaboration in the area of geological storage of CO²,' said Dr Clinton Foster, Chief of Geoscience Australia's Petroleum and Marine Division. The workshop enabled researchers to share their knowledge and experience, and to build valuable networks with representatives across government, academia and industry from both China and Australia. Presentations and discussions during the three-day workshop covered a wide range of topics including:
- assessing the prospectivity and capacity of geological formations for CO² storage
- policy and communication issues
- next steps for geological storage research in China and Australia, and for getting 'storage ready'
- updates on research and CCS projects in China, Australia, the United States, and the United Kingdom.
The visitors also appreciated the opportunity to network while relaxing and enjoying some of the Canberra region's major attractions.
The CAGS Project is one of several supported by the Australian Government through the Asia Pacific Partnership on Clean Development and Climate (APP): it commenced in 2009 and is expected to be completed by the end of 2011. Project activities include technical workshops, research, and other capacity-building activities. In addition to the technical workshop, several Chinese researchers have been sponsored to attend international CCS conferences. Further information about the project, including presentations and publications, can be found on the CAGS website.
For more information phone Aleks Kalinowski on +61 2 6249 9189 (email aleks.kalinowski@ga.gov.au)