Wandoan Power Project from GE & Stanwell Shortlisted for CCS Flagship Program.
BRISBANE, AUSTRALIA---December 8, 2009 --- The Wandoan Power Consortium welcomed today's announcement that its proposal for one of the world's first integrated gasification combined cycle (IGCC) plants with carbon capture and storage (CCS) has been shortlisted for the next stage of the federal government's CCS Flagship Program. The Wandoan Power Consortium is working to develop a state-of-the-art cleaner coal plant in Queensland.
"We're pleased with today's announcement by the Federal Government of support for the Wandoan IGCC project," said Phil Solomon, Commercial Director, Wandoan Power Consortium. "It demonstrates Australia's leadership in this industry and its full commitment towards a lower carbon future and a sustainable future for coal, Australia's number one export."
Coal, one of the world's most abundant and cost-effective fuel sources, will remain an important part of the global energy portfolio for years to come. Today, approximately 80% of Australia's electricity production originates from coal-fired power stations and coal plays a pivotal role in the country's economic growth. Australian coal is also a significant source of power for major economies in the Asia-Pacific region, making Australia's leadership in cleaner coal power generation technologies critical.
The proposed Wandoan Power Project IGCC plant with carbon capture would use Queensland's abundant coal resources and would be an important step in shaping the future of cleaner coal technology for power generation in Australia and around the world. GE, one of the consortium's two partners, has been at the forefront of IGCC technology for more than two decades. Today, GE's IGCC technology is being deployed at Duke Energy's power generation plant currently under construction in Edwardsport, Indiana. It is expected to be the world's largest IGCC facility when it reaches commercial operation in 2012. Stanwell Corporation Limited is working with GE as the Wandoan Power Consortium to develop the project, which would produce 400MW* of power pre-carbon capture and would be capable of capturing 90% of the CO2 in the fuel stream for future storage. The consortium is working co-operatively with Xstrata as the CTS Alliance on CO2 storage for the project and for coal supply.
Learn more about the Wandoan Power Project at www.wandoanpower.com.au.
About GE Energy
GE Energy (www.ge.com/energy) is one of the world's leading suppliers of power generation and energy delivery technologies, with 2008 revenue of $29.3 billion. GE Energy works in all areas of the energy industry including coal, oil and natural gas; renewable resources such as water, wind, solar and biogas; and other alternative fuels. Numerous GE Energy products are certified under ecomagination, GE's corporate-wide initiative to aggressively bring to market new technologies that will help customers meet pressing environmental challenges.
About GE
GE is a diversified global infrastructure, finance and media company that is built to meet essential world needs. From energy, water, transportation and health to access to money and information, GE serves customers in more than 100 countries and employs more than 300,000 people worldwide. For more information, visit the company's Web site at http://www.ge.com. GE is Imagination at Work.
About Stanwell Corporation Limited
A Queensland government-owned corporation formed in 1997, Stanwell is a power generator with a portfolio comprising coal-fired thermal, wind and hydroelectric power generation facilities. The company supplies electricity to satisfy the demand for energy from industrial and residential end-users in Queensland and other Australian states served by the National Electricity Market (NEM). Within the NEM, Stanwell is a leader in providing environmentally responsible, low-cost, reliable electricity to consumers.
*Gross output.
Elizabeth Rex
Communications Director
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