Woodside and US-based technology developers ReCarbon and LanzaTech have launched a collaborative studies program and will investigate the viability of a proposed carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) pilot facility in Perth, Western Australia.
The proposed pilot facility would recycle greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane into value-added ethanol using ReCarbon and Lanzatech’s technologies. The ReCarbon technology would convert carbon dioxide and methane into synthesis gas, with the LanzaTech technology fermenting the synthesis gas into ethanol. Traditionally, ethanol manufacture relies on land and water use for source crops, such as corn. CCU reduces the reliance on these natural resources.
The project is now in the front-end engineering design phase.
Woodside CEO Meg O’Neill described CCU as an exciting addition to the portfolio as it looked at carbon as an opportunity and resource, not just a challenge.
“What’s notable about CCU is the wider co-benefits. Some end products have a further decarbonisation benefit. Products such as ethanol can be used as raw materials in the chemical manufacturing industry.
“We also see a potential role for the technology in helping to abate some of our Scope 1 and 2 emissions,” she said.
Australia’s Clean Energy Regulator is currently leading a co-design process to develop a carbon capture use and storage method under the Emissions Reduction Fund.
Woodside aims to thrive through the energy transition by building a low-cost, lower-carbon, profitable, resilient and diversified portfolio. Woodside’s climate strategy has two key elements: reducing Woodside’s net equity Scope 1 and 2 greenhouse gas emissions, and investing in the products and services that its customers need as they reduce their emissions.
In 2021, Woodside set a US$5 billion investment target by 2030 for new energy products and lower-carbon services such as hydrogen, renewables and carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS).
