CRL Energy has a proven history of research in energy and energy related fields. We supply high quality and innovative research in strategically important fields to New Zealand's energy sector through Foundation for Research, Science and Technology (FRST) and Ministry for the Environment (MfE) funded research programmes. CRL Energy also supplies focussed, state-of-the-art solutions to meet the diverse research requirements of industrial and commercial clients.

This programme is part of a coherent strategy for reducing and eliminating CO₂ emissions from energy production using carbon-based fuels. Fossil fuels will remain a major energy source for the foreseeable future and technical solutions for emission reduction are realistic and achievable. The four components of this strategy are to manage carbon by increased energy efficiency, to produce low-carbon and carbon-free fuels, to capture and sequester CO₂, then to add value to the saved emissions through carbon trading.

The first two components of the strategy are addressed by the joint CRL Energy/IRL proposal “Hydrogen Energy for the Future of New Zealand” in the New and Emerging Energy Technologies portfolio and the current FRST Programmes “Efficient, Environmentally Sustainable Mining and Energy from Coal and Other Fuels” (CRAX001) and “Renewable Woody Biomass as a Sustainable Energy Source” (CO4X008). The fourth component of the strategy is addressed by the CRL Energy/Energy Federation of NZ Registration of Interest “Mitigating Greenhouse Gas Emissions in the Asia Pacific Region Through Carbon Trading” in the Mitigation, Adaptations and Response portfolio and the current Sustainable Management Fund project “Methodologies for Projects to Reduce Greenhouse Gas Emissions.”

This research addresses the third component of the strategy; that is the issue of capturing and sequestering CO₂ emissions generated from fossil fuels. In doing so it will develop another environmentally safe CO₂ mitigation option for New Zealand. More specifically we are proposing to develop new technologies to manage carbon by capture and secure storage, initially in geologic formations. A longer- term goal is to research the ocean storage options available to New Zealand. This research is another important initiative by which New Zealand can meet its commitments under the Kyoto Protocol.

The initial focus will be to identify New Zealand geologic formations, including depleted gas fields, deep coal seams and saline aquifers, as these are likely to provide the first large-scale opportunity to sequester concentrated CO₂ emissions. An initial scoping study (Objective 7, CRAX001) is identifying a range of options. These will be prioritised at the start of this study. Key rating factors will include capacity and location. This will be followed by laboratory studies to evaluate screening criteria such as caprock integrity, trapping and transfer mechanisms and long-term stability. The programme will also evaluate and trial appropriate capture technologies, including the use of ash residue from fossil fuel conversion processes, at the laboratory scale.

CRL Energy's Coal Gasifier which produces a clean stream of hydrogen.