Carbon harvester to capture Kwinana emissions

A Perth-based startup will chart out a study to sequester carbon from Kwinana’s industrial plants offshore in a bid to reduce environmental impact from the 7 million tonnes of emissions generated in the area each year.

Sea-Quester was awarded a $500,000 state government grant to work with Discover Geoscience and DORIS Group on a study to determine the commercial viability of disposing CO2 emissions from Kwinana into the South Perth basin.

The project would probe the feasibility of using a carbon harvesting vessel developed by Sea-Quester and subsea mooring and injection technology developed by fellow Perth start-up Pivotree, based in the same office.

Sea-Quester managing director Chris Merrick said offshore geosequestration of carbon could store emissions from the South West industrial corridor for decades.

“Preliminary work by Geoscience Australia shows the South Perth Basin is highly prospective for the sequestration of massive volumes of CO2,” he said.

“This study will pinpoint the specific areas within the basin where it’s prime for injection.”

Mr Merrick said there was currently no effective measure to large-scale disposal of CO2 for Kwinana’s industries.

If the Sea-Quester plan proves viable, it could be expanded to capture the entire South West industrial corridor’s 14 million tonnes of CO2 released every year between Perth and Bunbury.

Kwinana Industries Council Director Chris Oughton said the potential to sequester carbon emissions from Kwinana industrial activity was significant.

“The technical merits of carbon sequestration techniques, such as those under investigation for the South Perth Basin, could be a game-changing solution to the complex and challenging issue of emissions reduction for our members,” he said.

Sea-Quester was among nine organisations to share in the $4.24 million fund.

Climate Action Minister Reece Whitby said the projects would help WA reach net zero emissions by 2050.