Research & development

Research, development and deployment of new technologies, especially new energy technologies, is essential to reducing greenhouse gas emissions and addressing climate change.  So we are engaged in a number of research and development programmes, both in our own right as well as collectively with others.

How we address the challenge of climate change

We are part of a number of global initiatives to meet the long term challenges of global climate change. 

For the past three years, we have supported the Global Energy Technology Strategy Program (GTSP). This is a long term research program aimed at a better understanding of the role of energy technology options, advanced technology development and worldwide deployment.  This research is supported by an international group of public and private sector sponsors. 

The programme is managed by Battelle, a large, pre-eminent non-profit organisation that has a staff of 19,000 scientists, engineers and support specialists. It is dedicated to conducting $US 2.9 billion in annual research and development and operates four of the US Department of Energy's leading edge laboratories.

The first phase of GTSP showed that technology was the key to addressing climate change while maintaining a healthy economy. Currently, phase 2 of GTSP is defining which combinations of technologies are needed and the timing for implementation of those technologies.  Specifically, it is examining carbon capture and storage, nuclear energy, biotechnology, other renewables and energy efficiency. 

Another initiative that we are involved in is Futuregen, a US Department of Energy (DOE) initiative that aims to install a large gasification power station. It will have iintegrated hydrogen production and carbon capture and storage as a prototype demonstration of zero emission coal fired technologies.  It is expected that the chosen site will be announced this  year, and to be up and running in 2012.