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Coal Innovation NSW
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Mining, Exploration and Geoscience’s, Coal Innovation NSW (CINSW), was set up to advance low emissions coal technologies research and development across the state, with the aim of reducing greenhouse gas emissions associated with the mining and use of coal in industries such as electricity generation, steel and cement.

Low emissions coal technologies can play a vital role in reducing future greenhouse gas emissions and contribute to delivering the State’s aspirational emissions targets of a 50% cut in emissions by 2030 and zero-net emissions by 2050.

Investment in the Coal Innovation Program is already underway with the NSW Government’s Net Zero Plan Stage 1: 2020-2030 supporting a range of initiatives which includes reducing emissions from the mining and use of coal.

Advancements in the capture and storage of carbon dioxide (CO2) in NSW will also help the Commonwealth Government in meeting their commitment to mitigate the effects of climate change under the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change Paris Agreement.

Low emissions coal technologies can reduce the emissions from coal mining and coal-fired electricity generation. They can also contribute to ensuring the security and reliability of the state’s electricity network, and provide businesses and households in NSW with access to affordable electricity.

1  50% cut in emissions by 2030 compared to 2005 levels

Coal Innovation NSW

  • provides strategic advice and makes recommendations to the Government about funding projects that encourage the development of low emissions coal technologies
  • provides advice on policy to encourage the development and implementation of low emissions coal technologies
  • makes recommendations about opportunities for private and public sector organisations concerning interstate, national and international research projects involving low emissions coal technologies
  • provides advice on other matters concerning low emissions coal technologies
  • undertakes these activities in accordance with the CINSW Code of Conduct (PDF, 68.5 KB).

CINSW is an advisory council established by the Coal Innovation Administration Act 2008 (the Act). Council representatives come from the coal and energy industries, research institutes and the NSW Government.

Coal Innovation NSW Fund

One of the key roles of CINSW is the ongoing provision of strategic advice to the Minister concerning the Coal Innovation NSW Fund (the Fund). This $100 million Fund was established under the Act and is a vital tool in reducing NSW's carbon dioxide emissions, now and into the future.

The Fund’s purpose is to support research, development and the demonstration of low emissions coal technologies for future commercial application. It also aims to increase public awareness of the importance of low emissions coal technologies in reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The Fund’s main activities include:

  • A $15 million grant from the Fund will help establish a new facility at South32’s Illawarra coal mine, featuring cutting-edge technology, to tackle fugitive methane emissions. The grant will establish a pilot Ventilation Air Methane (VAM) abatement project that will be used to demonstrate the effectiveness of the innovative technology for industry. The pilot project, which is being co-funded by South32 with a co-contribution of $4.5 million, will help to encourage greater investment in, and uptake of, VAM abatement technologies to significantly reduce fugitive methane emissions from coal mining operations in NSW.
  • The NSW CO2 Storage Assessment Program aims to identify options for permanently storing CO2 underground in NSW. This program has received support through joint funding from the Commonwealth Government and Low Emission Technology Australia (LETA). To date over $27 million has been spent. CINSW is currently undertaking further exploration in this area and has established a $25 million budget to fund these activities.
  • NSW initiated the Delta Carbon Capture and Storage Demonstration Project with Delta Electricity. This project pioneered investigation into carbon capture and storage in NSW and included several pre-feasibility studies. In total, $2.1 million was spent on the project jointly funded by the Commonwealth Government, LETA and the Coal Innovation NSW Fund.
  • The Coal Innovation NSW Fund grants program is a direct investment from CINSW in low emission coal technology research. It assists emerging technologies that can provide future solutions to reducing the greenhouse gas emissions associated with coal mining and coal use. To date, grants have been offered in 2009, 2015, 2018 and 2021. All projects funded in the 2009 and 2015 rounds are completed and several of the 2018 funding round projects are ongoing.

Reports

For further information

Contact Coal Innovation NSW

Email: ccs.info@regional.nsw.gov.au