New Generation Coal

New Website on ‘New Generation Coal’ Launched by Australian Coal Association

Australian Coal Association media release

12 November 2008

A new interactive website to explain carbon capture and storage and the coal industry’s work to develop low emissions technologies was launched by the Australian Coal Association today.

ACA Executive Director Ralph Hillman said the black coal industry in Australia had long been committed to playing its part in reducing carbon dioxide emissions from the burning of coal, just as it had also acknowledged the need for the development of renewable forms of energy like solar and geothermal.

However, Mr Hillman today released market research - carried out on the ACA’s behalf earlier this year by the polling company UMR - which found that there is little knowledge about what the coal industry is doing to reduce CO₂ emissions from the burning of coal.

Likewise there is little understanding of the workings and effectiveness of low emissions coal technologies and the contribution that they can make to drastically reducing greenhouse gas emissions in Australia and in heavy coal using countries like China and India.

A recent study by the International Energy Agency stated that CCS technologies could reduce global emissions by as much as 20% by 2050.

“As a result of this research and other feedback, the black coal industry decided that providing a world-leading website where the public could learn and ask questions about CCS technologies would be of immediate benefit in the complex climate change debate,” said ACA Executive Director Mr Ralph Hillman.

“Every effort has been made to ensure that, whilst this website is clearly an initiative of the Australian black coal industry, information is presented objectively and supported by the established scientific and research community,” he said.

“Australia is at the forefront of the development of these technologies, a fact recognised by the Federal Government’s recent initiative to establish a Global Carbon Capture and Storage Institute in Australia.

“This is a vital public debate and it is important that the public have access to accurate and scientifically verified information on climate change and the facts about low emissions technologies.”

Mr Hillman said the industry also accepted that there was resistance to and confusion over the term “clean coal”, despite its widespread use around the world as shorthand for low emissions coal technology and for other coal abatement measures.

Clean coal is a term that was first used over a century ago to describe smokeless anthracite; it was later used to describe the removal of nitrous oxide and sulphur dioxide emissions from power stations.

“We believe it is important that there is a strong focus on and understanding of the new generation of coal technologies, rather than a phrase that creates confusion,” Mr Hillman said.

“We are using “www.newgencoal.com.au” as a convenient URL for a site which explains that industry, government and the research community are contributing significantly to the development of a new generation of low emissions technologies that will transform and clean up coal-fired power generation in Australia and, importantly, in heavy-emitting overseas countries,” he said.

A series of full page advertisement explaining the efforts of the coal industry will run in metropolitan and some regional newspapers on Thursday of this week.

These will be supported by an on-line and strip ad print campaign over the coming weeks.

For further information please contact:
Peter Logue
Director, External Communications
Direct +61 2 6175 2801
Mobile 0402 067 614
www.newgencoal.com.au