Western Australia accelerates its CCUS plan with a $16.9 million grant

Western Australia unveils an ambitious action plan for carbon capture, storage, and utilization (CCUS), supported by $16.9 million in funding, aiming to achieve carbon neutrality while boosting its economy.

Share:

Gain full professional access to energynews.pro from 4.90€/month.
Designed for decision-makers, with no long-term commitment.

Over 30,000 articles published since 2021.
150 new market analyses every week to decode global energy trends.

Monthly Digital PRO PASS

Immediate Access
4.90€/month*

No commitment – cancel anytime, activation in 2 minutes.

*Special launch offer: 1st month at the indicated price, then 14.90 €/month, no long-term commitment.

Annual Digital PRO Pass

Full Annual Access
99€/year*

To access all of energynews.pro without any limits

*Introductory annual price for year one, automatically renewed at 149.00 €/year from the second year.

Western Australia (WA) has taken a significant step forward in its energy strategy by launching an action plan dedicated to the development of carbon capture, storage, and utilization (CCUS). This plan is supported by a $16.9 million (AUD 26 million) fund, reflecting the government’s intent to make this technology a cornerstone of its energy transition and economic diversification.

According to Premier Roger Cook, CCUS is essential for reducing emissions in hard-to-decarbonize sectors such as cement, steel, and fertilizer production. The plan aligns with the state’s goal of achieving carbon neutrality by 2050, in line with national strategies such as the Future Gas Strategy.

With several CCUS projects under evaluation, Western Australia could capture up to 20 million metric tons of CO2 annually, approximately 25% of the state’s current net emissions. Notable infrastructure includes the CCS facility at the Gorgon LNG project, one of the largest in the world, which has already stored 10 million metric tons of CO2 since 2019 and aims to exceed 100 million metric tons over its lifetime.

A plan structured around six key areas

The action plan identifies six strategic priorities, including strengthening the legislative and regulatory framework, collaborating with industry, and promoting research and development to commercialize these technologies. The recent Petroleum Legislation Amendment Act 2024 lays the regulatory groundwork to facilitate CCUS projects.

Moreover, the government aims to establish CCUS hubs in major industrial areas such as Pilbara and Kwinana. These hubs will enhance collaboration between CO2 emitters, transporters, and storage operators while optimizing supply chains.

Strategic partnerships and simplified access to information

A centralized information platform will be created to allow simplified access to legislative data, grants, and technical reports, thereby improving public understanding and knowledge sharing within the industry.

Community engagement is also a major focus, with a commitment to working closely with local populations, particularly Indigenous communities, to ensure inclusive and responsible adoption of CCUS projects.

Promising economic and environmental potential

The government’s financial support aims not only to reduce emissions but also to stimulate investment and create jobs in a strategic sector. According to Caroline Cherry, WA Director of the Australian Energy Producers, CCUS represents a unique opportunity to combine emissions reduction with economic growth.

However, the International Energy Agency (IEA) warns that despite progress, the current deployment of CCUS technologies falls short of meeting the Paris Agreement targets. In 2023, only 50 million metric tons of CO2 were captured globally, compared to the 1 billion required by 2030 to stay on track for carbon neutrality.

TotalEnergies reduced its stake in the Bifrost CO2 storage project in Denmark, bringing in CarbonVault as an industrial partner and future client of the offshore site located in the North Sea.
The United Kingdom is launching the construction of two industrial carbon capture projects, backed by £9.4bn ($11.47bn) in public funding, with 500 skilled jobs created in the north of the country.
Frontier Infrastructure, in partnership with Gevo and Verity, rolls out an integrated solution combining rail transport, permanent sequestration, and digital CO₂ tracking, targeting over 200 ethanol production sites in North America.
geoLOGIC and Carbon Management Canada launch a free online technical certificate to support industrial sectors involved in carbon capture and storage technologies.
AtmosClear has chosen ExxonMobil to handle the transport and storage of 680,000 tonnes of CO₂ per year from its future biomass energy site at the Port of Baton Rouge, United States.
The Dutch start-up secures €6.8mn to industrialise a DAC electrolyser coupled with hydrogen, targeting sub-$100 per tonne capture and a €1.8mn European grant.
Japan Petroleum Exploration is preparing two offshore exploratory drillings near Hokkaidō to assess the feasibility of CO₂ storage as part of the Tomakomai CCS project.
The Singaporean government has signed a contract to purchase 2.17 million mtCO2e of carbon credits from REDD+, reforestation and grassland restoration projects, with deliveries scheduled between 2026 and 2030.
The Canadian government is funding three companies specialising in CO2 capture and utilisation, as part of a strategy to develop local technologies with high industrial value.
European carbon allowance prices reached a six-month high, driven by industrial compliance buying ahead of the deadline and rising natural gas costs.
Zefiro Methane Corp. completed the delivery of carbon credits to EDF Trading, validating a pre-sale agreement and marking its first revenues from the voluntary carbon market.
Hanwha Power Systems has signed a contract to supply mechanical vapour recompression compressors for a European combined-cycle power plant integrating carbon capture and storage.
A prudent limit of 1,460 GtCO2 for geologic storage reshapes the split between industrial abatement and net removals, with oil-scale injection needs and an onshore/offshore distribution that will define logistics, costs and liabilities.
Frontier Infrastructure Holdings drilled a 5,618-metre well in Wyoming, setting a national record and strengthening the Sweetwater Carbon Storage Hub’s potential for industrial carbon dioxide storage.
The Northern Lights project has injected its first volume of CO2 under the North Sea, marking an industrial milestone for carbon transport and storage in Europe.
Verra and S&P Global Commodity Insights join forces to build a next-generation registry aimed at strengthening carbon market integration and enhancing transaction transparency.
Singapore signs its first regional carbon credit agreement with Thailand, paving the way for new financial flows and stronger cooperation within ASEAN.
Eni sells nearly half of Eni CCUS Holding to GIP, consolidating a structure dedicated to carbon capture and storage projects across Europe.
Investors hold 28.9 million EUAs net long as of August 8, four-month record level. Prices stable around 71 euros despite divergent fundamentals.
The federal government is funding an Ottawa-based company’s project to design a CO2 capture unit adapted to cold climates and integrated into a shipping container.