❓ Mr Day questions the WA government's refusal to join the Coal 21 initiative, given its reliance on coal-fired power and the involvement of other states and organisations. Minister Ripper responds, highlighting WA's lower carbon intensity and expressing interest in low-emission coal technology, while also citing cost concerns and doubts about near-term availability.
AnsweredQoN 1401Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
I refer the minister to a positive initiative of the Australian coal industry called Coal 21, which is a partnership of Governments, industry and the research community aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions from coal-fired electricity generation. (1) Can the minister confirm that, despite about half of our electricity needs being generated from coal, Western Australia is the only State with a major interest in the outcome of Coal 21 that has not signed up to this important initiative? (2) Given that the Australian Greenhouse Office and the Commonwealth Government, the Queensland Government, the New South Wales Government, the Victorian Government, the South Australian Government, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the Centre for Fuels and Energy at Curtin University, and numerous other research bodies and industry representatives, have formally become involved in Coal 21, on what basis has the Gallop Government refused to join? (3) Will the minister admit that his recently announced crackdown on government agencies that are generating harmful greenhouse gases is hypocritical when the Government itself is not serious about improving its environmental performance? Mr E.S. RIPPER
AnswerView source ↗
(1)-(3) Although I do not have the figures in front of me, I venture to suggest that on the south west grid the carbon intensity of electricity generated and supplied is lower than the carbon intensity of electricity supplied in the national electricity market. That is because of the balance of fuel used on the south west grid compared with the fuels used in the eastern States. With regard to the potential for zero or low emission coal-fired electricity generation, I believe this is an area of technology that is highly prospective for the future. Leading scientists and engineers argue that one of the best ways in which to tackle greenhouse gas emissions into the future will be through a combination of technologies whereby coal is gasified and used for power generation, and the carbon dioxide is drawn off and sequestered deep underground in uneconomic coal seams. The Australian Government and the industry took a mission to the United States to discuss these very matters. I arranged for a staff member of the Office of Energy to join that mission and go to the United States for that series of consultations. With regard to formally joining Coal 21, I will look into that matter and see what cost is involved for the Government. We certainly do have an interest in low or zero emission coal technology. I need to say, though, that on the advice available to me, that technology will not be available within the next decade. I wish it were likely to become available within the next decade, but my advice is that the advent of that technology is likely to be somewhat beyond that window.
(1) Can the minister confirm that, despite about half of our electricity needs being generated from coal, Western Australia is the only State with a major interest in the outcome of Coal 21 that has not signed up to this important initiative? (2) Given that the Australian Greenhouse Office and the Commonwealth Government, the Queensland Government, the New South Wales Government, the Victorian Government, the South Australian Government, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the Centre for Fuels and Energy at Curtin University, and numerous other research bodies and industry representatives, have formally become involved in Coal 21, on what basis has the Gallop Government refused to join? (3) Will the minister admit that his recently announced crackdown on government agencies that are generating harmful greenhouse gases is hypocritical when the Government itself is not serious about improving its environmental performance? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) Although I do not have the figures in front of me, I venture to suggest that on the south west grid the carbon intensity of electricity generated and supplied is lower than the carbon intensity of electricity supplied in the national electricity market. That is because of the balance of fuel used on the south west grid compared with the fuels used in the eastern States. With regard to the potential for zero or low emission coal-fired electricity generation, I believe this is an area of technology that is highly prospective for the future. Leading scientists and engineers argue that one of the best ways in which to tackle greenhouse gas emissions into the future will be through a combination of technologies whereby coal is gasified and used for power generation, and the carbon dioxide is drawn off and sequestered deep underground in uneconomic coal seams. The Australian Government and the industry took a mission to the United States to discuss these very matters. I arranged for a staff member of the Office of Energy to join that mission and go to the United States for that series of consultations. With regard to formally joining Coal 21, I will look into that matter and see what cost is involved for the Government. We certainly do have an interest in low or zero emission coal technology. I need to say, though, that on the advice available to me, that technology will not be available within the next decade. I wish it were likely to become available within the next decade, but my advice is that the advent of that technology is likely to be somewhat beyond that window.
(2) Given that the Australian Greenhouse Office and the Commonwealth Government, the Queensland Government, the New South Wales Government, the Victorian Government, the South Australian Government, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the Centre for Fuels and Energy at Curtin University, and numerous other research bodies and industry representatives, have formally become involved in Coal 21, on what basis has the Gallop Government refused to join? (3) Will the minister admit that his recently announced crackdown on government agencies that are generating harmful greenhouse gases is hypocritical when the Government itself is not serious about improving its environmental performance? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) Although I do not have the figures in front of me, I venture to suggest that on the south west grid the carbon intensity of electricity generated and supplied is lower than the carbon intensity of electricity supplied in the national electricity market. That is because of the balance of fuel used on the south west grid compared with the fuels used in the eastern States. With regard to the potential for zero or low emission coal-fired electricity generation, I believe this is an area of technology that is highly prospective for the future. Leading scientists and engineers argue that one of the best ways in which to tackle greenhouse gas emissions into the future will be through a combination of technologies whereby coal is gasified and used for power generation, and the carbon dioxide is drawn off and sequestered deep underground in uneconomic coal seams. The Australian Government and the industry took a mission to the United States to discuss these very matters. I arranged for a staff member of the Office of Energy to join that mission and go to the United States for that series of consultations. With regard to formally joining Coal 21, I will look into that matter and see what cost is involved for the Government. We certainly do have an interest in low or zero emission coal technology. I need to say, though, that on the advice available to me, that technology will not be available within the next decade. I wish it were likely to become available within the next decade, but my advice is that the advent of that technology is likely to be somewhat beyond that window.
(3) Will the minister admit that his recently announced crackdown on government agencies that are generating harmful greenhouse gases is hypocritical when the Government itself is not serious about improving its environmental performance? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) Although I do not have the figures in front of me, I venture to suggest that on the south west grid the carbon intensity of electricity generated and supplied is lower than the carbon intensity of electricity supplied in the national electricity market. That is because of the balance of fuel used on the south west grid compared with the fuels used in the eastern States. With regard to the potential for zero or low emission coal-fired electricity generation, I believe this is an area of technology that is highly prospective for the future. Leading scientists and engineers argue that one of the best ways in which to tackle greenhouse gas emissions into the future will be through a combination of technologies whereby coal is gasified and used for power generation, and the carbon dioxide is drawn off and sequestered deep underground in uneconomic coal seams. The Australian Government and the industry took a mission to the United States to discuss these very matters. I arranged for a staff member of the Office of Energy to join that mission and go to the United States for that series of consultations. With regard to formally joining Coal 21, I will look into that matter and see what cost is involved for the Government. We certainly do have an interest in low or zero emission coal technology. I need to say, though, that on the advice available to me, that technology will not be available within the next decade. I wish it were likely to become available within the next decade, but my advice is that the advent of that technology is likely to be somewhat beyond that window.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) Although I do not have the figures in front of me, I venture to suggest that on the south west grid the carbon intensity of electricity generated and supplied is lower than the carbon intensity of electricity supplied in the national electricity market. That is because of the balance of fuel used on the south west grid compared with the fuels used in the eastern States. With regard to the potential for zero or low emission coal-fired electricity generation, I believe this is an area of technology that is highly prospective for the future. Leading scientists and engineers argue that one of the best ways in which to tackle greenhouse gas emissions into the future will be through a combination of technologies whereby coal is gasified and used for power generation, and the carbon dioxide is drawn off and sequestered deep underground in uneconomic coal seams. The Australian Government and the industry took a mission to the United States to discuss these very matters. I arranged for a staff member of the Office of Energy to join that mission and go to the United States for that series of consultations. With regard to formally joining Coal 21, I will look into that matter and see what cost is involved for the Government. We certainly do have an interest in low or zero emission coal technology. I need to say, though, that on the advice available to me, that technology will not be available within the next decade. I wish it were likely to become available within the next decade, but my advice is that the advent of that technology is likely to be somewhat beyond that window.
(1)-(3) Although I do not have the figures in front of me, I venture to suggest that on the south west grid the carbon intensity of electricity generated and supplied is lower than the carbon intensity of electricity supplied in the national electricity market. That is because of the balance of fuel used on the south west grid compared with the fuels used in the eastern States. With regard to the potential for zero or low emission coal-fired electricity generation, I believe this is an area of technology that is highly prospective for the future. Leading scientists and engineers argue that one of the best ways in which to tackle greenhouse gas emissions into the future will be through a combination of technologies whereby coal is gasified and used for power generation, and the carbon dioxide is drawn off and sequestered deep underground in uneconomic coal seams. The Australian Government and the industry took a mission to the United States to discuss these very matters. I arranged for a staff member of the Office of Energy to join that mission and go to the United States for that series of consultations. With regard to formally joining Coal 21, I will look into that matter and see what cost is involved for the Government. We certainly do have an interest in low or zero emission coal technology. I need to say, though, that on the advice available to me, that technology will not be available within the next decade. I wish it were likely to become available within the next decade, but my advice is that the advent of that technology is likely to be somewhat beyond that window.
(1) Can the minister confirm that, despite about half of our electricity needs being generated from coal, Western Australia is the only State with a major interest in the outcome of Coal 21 that has not signed up to this important initiative? (2) Given that the Australian Greenhouse Office and the Commonwealth Government, the Queensland Government, the New South Wales Government, the Victorian Government, the South Australian Government, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the Centre for Fuels and Energy at Curtin University, and numerous other research bodies and industry representatives, have formally become involved in Coal 21, on what basis has the Gallop Government refused to join? (3) Will the minister admit that his recently announced crackdown on government agencies that are generating harmful greenhouse gases is hypocritical when the Government itself is not serious about improving its environmental performance? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) Although I do not have the figures in front of me, I venture to suggest that on the south west grid the carbon intensity of electricity generated and supplied is lower than the carbon intensity of electricity supplied in the national electricity market. That is because of the balance of fuel used on the south west grid compared with the fuels used in the eastern States. With regard to the potential for zero or low emission coal-fired electricity generation, I believe this is an area of technology that is highly prospective for the future. Leading scientists and engineers argue that one of the best ways in which to tackle greenhouse gas emissions into the future will be through a combination of technologies whereby coal is gasified and used for power generation, and the carbon dioxide is drawn off and sequestered deep underground in uneconomic coal seams. The Australian Government and the industry took a mission to the United States to discuss these very matters. I arranged for a staff member of the Office of Energy to join that mission and go to the United States for that series of consultations. With regard to formally joining Coal 21, I will look into that matter and see what cost is involved for the Government. We certainly do have an interest in low or zero emission coal technology. I need to say, though, that on the advice available to me, that technology will not be available within the next decade. I wish it were likely to become available within the next decade, but my advice is that the advent of that technology is likely to be somewhat beyond that window.
(2) Given that the Australian Greenhouse Office and the Commonwealth Government, the Queensland Government, the New South Wales Government, the Victorian Government, the South Australian Government, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, the Centre for Fuels and Energy at Curtin University, and numerous other research bodies and industry representatives, have formally become involved in Coal 21, on what basis has the Gallop Government refused to join? (3) Will the minister admit that his recently announced crackdown on government agencies that are generating harmful greenhouse gases is hypocritical when the Government itself is not serious about improving its environmental performance? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) Although I do not have the figures in front of me, I venture to suggest that on the south west grid the carbon intensity of electricity generated and supplied is lower than the carbon intensity of electricity supplied in the national electricity market. That is because of the balance of fuel used on the south west grid compared with the fuels used in the eastern States. With regard to the potential for zero or low emission coal-fired electricity generation, I believe this is an area of technology that is highly prospective for the future. Leading scientists and engineers argue that one of the best ways in which to tackle greenhouse gas emissions into the future will be through a combination of technologies whereby coal is gasified and used for power generation, and the carbon dioxide is drawn off and sequestered deep underground in uneconomic coal seams. The Australian Government and the industry took a mission to the United States to discuss these very matters. I arranged for a staff member of the Office of Energy to join that mission and go to the United States for that series of consultations. With regard to formally joining Coal 21, I will look into that matter and see what cost is involved for the Government. We certainly do have an interest in low or zero emission coal technology. I need to say, though, that on the advice available to me, that technology will not be available within the next decade. I wish it were likely to become available within the next decade, but my advice is that the advent of that technology is likely to be somewhat beyond that window.
(3) Will the minister admit that his recently announced crackdown on government agencies that are generating harmful greenhouse gases is hypocritical when the Government itself is not serious about improving its environmental performance? Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) Although I do not have the figures in front of me, I venture to suggest that on the south west grid the carbon intensity of electricity generated and supplied is lower than the carbon intensity of electricity supplied in the national electricity market. That is because of the balance of fuel used on the south west grid compared with the fuels used in the eastern States. With regard to the potential for zero or low emission coal-fired electricity generation, I believe this is an area of technology that is highly prospective for the future. Leading scientists and engineers argue that one of the best ways in which to tackle greenhouse gas emissions into the future will be through a combination of technologies whereby coal is gasified and used for power generation, and the carbon dioxide is drawn off and sequestered deep underground in uneconomic coal seams. The Australian Government and the industry took a mission to the United States to discuss these very matters. I arranged for a staff member of the Office of Energy to join that mission and go to the United States for that series of consultations. With regard to formally joining Coal 21, I will look into that matter and see what cost is involved for the Government. We certainly do have an interest in low or zero emission coal technology. I need to say, though, that on the advice available to me, that technology will not be available within the next decade. I wish it were likely to become available within the next decade, but my advice is that the advent of that technology is likely to be somewhat beyond that window.
Mr E.S. RIPPER replied: (1)-(3) Although I do not have the figures in front of me, I venture to suggest that on the south west grid the carbon intensity of electricity generated and supplied is lower than the carbon intensity of electricity supplied in the national electricity market. That is because of the balance of fuel used on the south west grid compared with the fuels used in the eastern States. With regard to the potential for zero or low emission coal-fired electricity generation, I believe this is an area of technology that is highly prospective for the future. Leading scientists and engineers argue that one of the best ways in which to tackle greenhouse gas emissions into the future will be through a combination of technologies whereby coal is gasified and used for power generation, and the carbon dioxide is drawn off and sequestered deep underground in uneconomic coal seams. The Australian Government and the industry took a mission to the United States to discuss these very matters. I arranged for a staff member of the Office of Energy to join that mission and go to the United States for that series of consultations. With regard to formally joining Coal 21, I will look into that matter and see what cost is involved for the Government. We certainly do have an interest in low or zero emission coal technology. I need to say, though, that on the advice available to me, that technology will not be available within the next decade. I wish it were likely to become available within the next decade, but my advice is that the advent of that technology is likely to be somewhat beyond that window.
(1)-(3) Although I do not have the figures in front of me, I venture to suggest that on the south west grid the carbon intensity of electricity generated and supplied is lower than the carbon intensity of electricity supplied in the national electricity market. That is because of the balance of fuel used on the south west grid compared with the fuels used in the eastern States. With regard to the potential for zero or low emission coal-fired electricity generation, I believe this is an area of technology that is highly prospective for the future. Leading scientists and engineers argue that one of the best ways in which to tackle greenhouse gas emissions into the future will be through a combination of technologies whereby coal is gasified and used for power generation, and the carbon dioxide is drawn off and sequestered deep underground in uneconomic coal seams. The Australian Government and the industry took a mission to the United States to discuss these very matters. I arranged for a staff member of the Office of Energy to join that mission and go to the United States for that series of consultations. With regard to formally joining Coal 21, I will look into that matter and see what cost is involved for the Government. We certainly do have an interest in low or zero emission coal technology. I need to say, though, that on the advice available to me, that technology will not be available within the next decade. I wish it were likely to become available within the next decade, but my advice is that the advent of that technology is likely to be somewhat beyond that window.
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