Media release

From: Australian Science Media Centre

Following a string of blackouts in SA, PM Malcolm Turnbull has pointed to 'clean coal' as a reliable solution to the country's energy woes. But what is 'clean coal', just how clean could it be and is it really more reliable than alternatives? 'Clean coal' can actually refer to two different technologies: high efficiency, low emission coal, or carbon capture and storage. It's not always clear which of these the pollies are referring to, and not at all clear that either technique represents an appropriate way forward for energy supply in Australia.

The briefing will discuss the following issues:

• The science behind high efficiency, low emission coal
• The science behind carbon capture and storage
• How both 'clean coal' technologies fit into Australia's energy market and how they compare to other energy alternatives

Speakers:

• Dr Daniel Roberts is Principal Research Scientist & Research Group Leader of the High Efficiency Thermal and Electrochemical Technologies research group within CSIRO Energy
  • The CSIRO is a government-funded organisation and some research has been funded by coal companies.
• Professor Peter Cook CBE, FTSE is a Professorial Fellow at the Peter Cook Centre for Carbon Capture and Storage Research at the University of Melbourne
  • The Peter Cook Centre for Carbon Capture and Storage Research is funded by the state government, Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies, Rio Tinto. Peter has not recieved money directly from them. Peter is Principal Adviser to the Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies and occasionally consults to BHP.
• Dr Iain MacGill is an Associate Professor in the School of Electrical Engineering and Telecommunications at the University of New South Wales, and Joint Director (Engineering) for the University’s Centre for Energy and Environmental Markets (CEEM)

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Date: Monday,13 Feb 2017
Start time: 11:00am AEDT
Duration: Approx 45 min
Venue: Online