Low Emission Technology Australia

Policy Insights from LETA: The NSW Environment Protection Authority (EPA) Guide for Large Emitters. Under its Climate Change Policy and Action Plan, the NSW EPA has a role in supporting the NSW Government to meet its greenhouse gas emission reduction targets. This includes public consultation on the draft Guide for Large Emitters. Why Guide for Large Emitters Matters: - It outlines the requirements project developers will need to meet in their Environmental Impact Assessments. - It requires detailed emissions information from large-emission projects. - It provides the community with information about emissions from new projects. As an organisation committed to advancing low emission technology to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in Australia and globally, and as a member of the EPA, LETA recently submitted feedback on the draft Guide. LETA’s Submission in a Nutshell: - We called for framework simplification: Stating that the Draft Guide complicates the existing regulatory framework and duplicates a national approach. We recommend simplifying it to ensure project developers clearly understand the requirements. - We called for clarification of requirements: Stating that clear guidelines are needed for conducting a Greenhouse Gas Assessment and creating a Greenhouse Gas Mitigation Plan. We will continue to advocate for improvements and keep you updated! Read more from our submission here: https://lnkd.in/g7DgZUm6

“Deployment of low emission technology is the key to reducing emissions without abandoning the critical industries like cement, steel and power generation that are the backbone of Australia’s economy and deliver hundreds of thousands of Australian jobs.” - LETA CEO, Mark McCallum LETA welcomes this week's announcement from the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water (DCCEEW) of $65 million of grant-based funding for emerging decarbonisation technologies through the Carbon Capture Technologies Program. The DCCEEW funding includes substantial investment to explore solutions for decarbonising hard-to-abate industries which are critical for Australian jobs and communities. Read more from our media release below or learn more about the grant recipients here: https://lnkd.in/g9W6Ust2

LETA welcomes today’s announcement by the Hon Madeleine King MP, Minister for Resources, about the Government’s plans to finalise ten permits for carbon capture and storage (CCS) exploration in offshore Australia. In her announcement, Minister King echoed the stance of internationally recognised scientific agencies from Australia and around the world who have long recognised the crucial role CCS will need to play in a low emissions energy future. To continue this important focus, LETA urges Governments all around Australia to respond to the advice of scientific experts and ensure that Australia’s path to net zero is rooted in evidence rather than politics. Read more from our media release here: https://lnkd.in/gQb_xUT7

Low Emission Technology Australia - Abroad!      We are committed to forging partnerships with our APAC neighbors to explore emissions reduction opportunities with Australia’s key trading partners.     As a part of this effort, earlier this month, our Director of Business Development, Benn Wheeler, joined the Australia-Korea Business Council on their Chairman's Delegation in Korea.       The trip involved several high-level meetings and events aimed at strengthening the Australia-Korea economic partnership.       Key meetings included discussions with technology, Government, and economic bodies, including the Australian Ambassador to Korea, The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian Trade and Investment Commission (Austrade), POSCO Holdings, Shin & Kim, Export-Import Bank of Korea, KREDO Holdings, KB Securities, and many more.      The delegation also met with In-hwa Chang, the Chairman of POSCO Holdings after touring the Gwangyang Steelworks - the world’s largest steel plant, producing steel for 10% of cars globally using Australia's natural resources!       The trip highlighted key opportunities, including:       - Energy Security: Korea imports 95% of its energy, making energy security crucial. Australia must continue to be a reliable energy supplier.      - Korea’s 11th Energy Plan: This plan aims to achieve 70.2% carbon-free electricity by 2038, highlighting low emission technology partnership opportunities between our countries.       - Supply Chain Resilience: Korea is establishing an AUD$5.328 billion fund to stabilise supply chains and reduce dependency on China by 50%, enhancing the importance of its partnership with Australia.      - Economic Partnership: There are significant opportunities to further strengthen the economic ties between Australia and Korea.      We are grateful to have been part of the delegation and will continue to collaborate with key trading partners as we work towards a cleaner energy future.   

LETA notes the Australian Government’s investment of $37.2 million into ventilation air methane (VAM) abatement technology that will help to reduce fugitive emissions from Australian coal mines. Methane released during coal mining is a source of greenhouse gas emissions and mitigating these emissions is an important goal that LETA has been supporting for more than a decade from our initial research to the current work on implementing the technology to Australian mining safety standards. "Today’s investment by Government recognises that Australia’s pathway to net zero must include solutions for the critical industries that our communities and the economy will continue to rely on." - LETA CEO, Mark McCallum Read more from our response below:

“CCUS is crucial for addressing global warming, aiding Australia's energy transition, and supporting regional decarbonisation while creating jobs and economic opportunities,” - The Hon Madeleine King, Minister for Resources and Northern Australia, at Carbon Capture APAC 2024. This week, we attended the inaugural Carbon Capture APAC 2024 event to present LETA’s perspectives and hear from industry leaders globally. Key takeaways from the event include: - CCUS is established, proven, and ready for large-scale deployment, with many great minds, organisations and research institutions dedicated to advancing the technology in Australia and worldwide. - International governments and Australia's key trading partners, including Japan, Korea, Malaysia, and Singapore, have dedicated CCUS roadmaps and are prioritising deployment. - The Australian Government acknowledges CCUS's potential through policy development, regulatory reviews, investment, permit issuance, and some international collaboration. - The momentum behind CCUS in the APAC region presents an immense opportunity for Australia to collaborate with key trading partners to support transboundary decarbonisation efforts. The Carbon Capture APAC 2024 event underscored the critical importance of CCUS in meeting global emissions reduction commitments, including Australia’s goal of reaching net zero by 2050. The event highlighted strong international commitment and significant opportunities for Australia to lead collaborative efforts towards a cleaner energy future.

We are disappointed by the Federal Senate Inquiry's recommendations against Glencore’s Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project. LETA CEO, Mark McCallum notes: "The report, released today by the Senate Standing Committee on Environment and Communications, is a missed opportunity to recognise the crucial role that CCS technology can play in supporting Australia to reach its emissions reduction targets." "Today’s report provided an opportunity for the Senate Committee to do what governments around the world have already done by recognising the crucial role that CCS technology will play in a global net zero future." "It is incumbent upon those who oppose critical technologies like CCS to outline the pathway to net zero for the hard to abate sectors of our economy that employ hundreds of thousands of Australian workers.”  LETA remains committed to collaborating with various stakeholders to explore technologies that ensure Australia meets its net zero emissions target while supporting critical industries. Read more from our response below:

On Day One of Carbon Capture APAC 2024, our Director of External Affairs, Damian Dwyer, joined fellow CCUS industry experts on the panel "New Carbon Technologies: Maximising Efficiency, Scale, and Reduction of Emissions." The panel discussed the importance of CCS for reducing emissions across various sectors. To scale this technology, Damian emphasised the need for consistent and clear support from the Australian Government for carbon capture and storage at both state and federal levels. He highlighted how governments worldwide are supporting CCUS development and called for the Australian Government to provide similar backing for CCUS, akin to their support for other climate technologies. Damian shared these insights alongside industry experts and two of LETA's project partners, including Barry Hooper from KC8 Capture Technologies and Matthias Raab PhD from CO2CRC Limited.

We are thrilled to be sponsoring Carbon Capture APAC 2024 🎉 The event brings government reps, industry leaders, and innovators from Australia and around the world to discuss the future of carbon capture technologies. LETA's Director of External Affairs, Damian Dwyer, will be sharing his insights on the panel: New Carbon Technologies: Maximising Efficiency, Scale, and Reduction of Emissions. Keep your eyes peeled for our wrap-up of key insights from the event next week!

After a study was conducted into the development of CCUS hubs in Western Australia, the report stated that there is a potential boost in WA’s GDP by billions of dollars and could generate 37,000 construction jobs, along with 500 permanent jobs. The WA Government is investing $4.3 million into establishing a Carbon Capture and Storage industry in WA. #carboncapturestorage #ccusleadership