Horizon Power has successfully completed a groundbreaking three-month trial in Perth, Western Australia, testing the application of carbon capture, usage and storage (CCUS) technology to decarbonise diesel generators.
The trial, conducted in partnership with Melbourne-based start-up Kapture, marks the first real-world deployment of its innovative system outside laboratory conditions.
The pilot project evaluated Kapture’s technology, which directly captures CO2 emissions from the exhaust of a diesel generator and stores the carbon as a sediment.
This sediment can later be permanently sequestered into concrete, a process previously demonstrated by Kapture in collaboration with Perth-based manufacturer Permacast, where the results “exceeded expectations”.
Throughout the trial, Horizon Power and Kapture closely monitored the impact of the technology on generator performance and the efficiency of carbon capture, using a standalone power system (SPS) generator to assess the technology’s effectiveness.
The findings from this trial will inform the potential broader deployment of CCUS technology across Horizon Power’s regional operations, supporting Western Australia’s pathway to net zero carbon emissions by 2050.
Horizon Power’s Acting Chief Executive Officer, Krystal Skinner, highlighted the significance of the collaboration, stating: “We are excited to be working with Kapture to advance the development of their carbon capture, usage and storage technology, testing its capabilities for reducing CO2 emission across our regions.”
Skinner further explained the broader implications for Horizon Power’s service areas, stating: “This trial supports the development of a later in-field trial to highlight the opportunity for the decarbonisation of service delivery using existing assets, supporting a cleaner, greener future for our regional and remote customers.”
She also addressed the ongoing challenge of reducing emissions in remote communities, stating: “Diesel fuel is difficult and costly to abate in small regional microgrids. Horizon Power is focused on increasing the use of renewable energy in our systems, but in the meantime, it is important for us to do everything we can to reduce our carbon footprint.”
The trial underscores the potential for CCUS technology to play a crucial role in decarbonising diesel engines, particularly in remote and regional power supplies where alternatives are limited.
Horizon Power’s initiative aligns with the WA government’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2050 and demonstrates the utility’s ongoing efforts to support a cleaner, greener energy future for Western Australia.