FEnEx CRC LP LT Technology R&D Project
Why shipping captured emissions matters?
Capturing carbon emissions from industrial sources is the first step in the carbon capture and storage process to reduce emissions from heavy industries. Once captured, the CO₂ must be transported—sometimes over long distances—to where it can be stored underground. To make CO₂ storage technically and economically viable at scale, reliable and affordable transport infrastructure is essential.
What is the FEnEx CRC LP LT Technology R&D Project?
The FEnEx CRC Captured Emissions Shipping Study was a collaborative research project supported by Low Emission Technology Australia (LETA) and several Japanese organisations. The project explored new, safe ways to transport captured emissions by ship, specifically by keeping emissions in a liquid state at low pressures and low temperatures.
This innovative method of shipping emissions as low-pressure, low-temperature liquefied CO₂ is promising because it could lower costs and simplify how captured emissions are moved around the world.
The study focuses on three key areas:
Understanding how liquefied CO₂ behaves at low pressures and temperatures, including how to safely manage any CO₂ that might evaporate during transport (known as boil-off).
Developing advanced engineering models and software tools to help design efficient, safe ships and transport systems.
Conducting practical demonstrations at smaller scales to prove the safety, feasibility, and efficiency of these new transport methods.
Who’s involved?
This international project involves organisations from Australia, Japan, and South Korea, including the Future Energy Exports CRC (FEnEx CRC), JX Nippon Oil & Gas Exploration Corporation, Mitsui O.S.K. Lines, Osaka Gas, the University of Western Australia, Curtin University, Seoul National University, deepC Store Pty Ltd and LETA.
How does this fit with LETA’s mission?
LETA supports practical solutions to help industries develop new ways to reduce emissions. By investing in the FEnEx CRC shipping study, LETA is helping to bridge the gap between capturing emissions and storing them. This aligns closely with LETA’s mission of accelerating emissions reduction technologies, particularly for industries where emissions can’t easily be stored near the source.
What’s next?
Low Pressure, Low Temperature Liquified CO2 Transportation Technology for Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Sequestration Demonstrations: Phase One has been successfully completed. The outcomes of the study have provided critical insights and identified practical solutions to enable wider use of emissions transport and storage.
This project demonstrates a potential pathway for safer and more cost-effective transport of captured CO₂, supporting LETA’s commitment to developing real-world emissions reduction solutions that benefit both Australia and the global industry.