National Low Emission Coal Initiative

The National Low Emissions Coal Initiative (NLECI) supports the development and deployment of low emission technologies and carbon dioxide transport and storage infrastructure. The program aims to achieve major cuts in greenhouse gas emissions from coal use.

Various stakeholders across industry, research institutions and state and territory governments support the NLECI.

Ongoing projects and initiatives

These are the current NLECI projects and initiatives.

Australian National Low Emission Coal Research and Development (ANLEC R&D)

Delivering a national low emissions coal research program and national research centre, the ANLEC R&D provides independent analysis, data and expertise. This supports the design, permitting and operation of low emission coal technology using Australian coal under Australian conditions.

ANLEC focuses on accelerating the feedback between the demonstration projects and the applied technology research and development cycle. The Australian Government and industry—through the COAL21 Fund—jointly fund the ANLEC R&D.

Bilateral cooperation on Clean Coal Technology

The Australia–China Joint Coordination Group (JCG) fosters research collaboration, technology development, data exchange and networking between Australia and China.

Completed projects and initiatives

These are the completed NLCEI projects and initiatives.

Hydrogen Energy Supply Chain (HESC) Front End Engineering Design (FEED) Project

The Australian and Victorian Governments jointly funded elements of a FEED project for a HESC Pilot Project to convert Victorian brown coal to hydrogen for export to Japan for use as a liquid fuel. The project is one of a number of options that Kawasaki Heavy Industries Ltd is examining worldwide to meet the Japanese government’s energy diversification plans.

The FEED was completed in September 2017 and found the HESC Pilot Project is technically feasible. The Australian and Victorian Governments, Japanese Government and the Japanese partners have now committed to undertake the HESC Pilot Project. This could unlock a new export market for Australia and develop new industries and economic benefits for regional Victoria.

Mineral Carbonation Project

The mineral carbonation process uses the natural process of capturing carbon dioxide in mineral deposits and then storing it in rocks.

Mineral carbonation technology mimics and speeds up the Earth's own carbon sink mechanism. It combines carbon dioxide with low grade minerals to make inert carbonates, similar to baking soda. Mineral Carbonation International has constructed a research pilot plant that produces test batches of materials.

National Carbon Mapping and Infrastructure Plan

The National CO2 Infrastructure Plan was developed to speed up the identification and development of suitable long-term carbon dioxide storage sites within reasonable distances of major energy and industrial emission sources.

Post Combustion Capture (PCC) of Carbon Dioxide Technology project

The project aimed to progress PCC technology under the flue gas conditions that are common in Chinese coal fired power stations. The project looked at PCC process designs which provide lower energy requirements for the capture process.

Carbon Dioxide Infrastructure Assessment Project (CIAP)

Provided the ability to identify potential onshore and offshore pipeline routes in and around Australia for transporting carbon dioxide to geosequestration storage sites.

Callide oxyfuel combustion project

The Callide oxyfuel combustion project demonstrated how oxyfuel and carbon capture technology can be used in existing power stations to generate electricity from coal with low emissions.

Contact us

Email LowEmissions@industry.gov.au

See also

Find out about research and development into low emission technologies for fossil fuels.