<
https://reneweconomy.com.au/woodside-handed-government-funds-for-carbon-capture-projects-but-activists-say-we-should-use-less-gas/>
"Woodside Petroleum will be among oil and gas producers to receive a massive
taxpayer-funded handout as the Western Australian state government moves to
embrace carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS).
Premier Roger Cook announced the state’s “CCUS Action Plan” on Thursday with a
promise to spend $26 million to support two CCUS projects, including one
associated with Woodside’s Burrup Hub gas development in the Pilbara, as a
“vital technology to tackling climate change and supporting local jobs.”
Under the plan, the state will seek to attract new investment for CCUS projects
aimed at supporting “WA’s existing infrastructure, highly skilled workforce and
suitable geological formations.”
The Premier said the plan was part of the state’s broader decarbonisation
strategy, adding CCUS “will play an important role for hard-to-abate
industries”.
“My government is delivering on our clean energy plan to create local jobs,
tackle climate change and set up our state for the future,” Cook said.
The announcement was welcomed by the Australian Energy Producers (AEP), the
country’s longest running oil and gas industry association, formerly known as
the Australian Petroleum Production and Exploration Association.
Caroline Cherry, AEP’s WA director, described the plan as “evidence of how
states can seize the economic opportunities of net zero while reducing
emissions” in a state where the Gorgon CCS facility was already operating.
“The plan further aligns the state with global momentum recognising that CCUS
is essential for achieving climate goals,” Cherry said.
The IEA’s landmark
Net Zero Roadmap report found that there can be no new
investment in oil, gas and coal by the end of 2021 if the world hopes to
achieve net zero by 2050.
The report said that while carbon, capture and storage technologies will be
needed in some capacity, it should not be used for fossil fuel production and
its role only became significant in scenarios where the world delayed in acting
to phase out fossil fuels, or took no action at all.
It has also consistently revised down its projections for how much CCS will be
needed over time.
The United Nation’s Environment Program (UNEP)’s
Production Gap report
similarly found that four-in-five CCS projects have failed over the last 30
years and Gorgon itself has failed to achieve the results it promised."
Cheers,
*** Xanni ***
--
mailto:xanni@xanadu.net Andrew Pam
http://xanadu.com.au/ Chief Scientist, Xanadu
https://glasswings.com.au/ Partner, Glass Wings
https://sericyb.com.au/ Manager, Serious Cybernetics
