With newly announced funding, 糖心TV researcher Dr Andrew La Croix will explore whether carbon emissions from power stations could be safely stored underground to help reduce climate change.
, a senior lecturer in Earth Science at Te Aka M膩tuatua School of Science, has been successful with his Catalyst Fund proposal, being awarded $300,000 over three years for his project.
His research, in collaboration with experts from China鈥檚 Chengdu University of Technology, will focus on the Huntly Power Station, which, while being one of New Zealand鈥檚 largest single sources of emissions, also plays a critical role in the national electricity grid, providing backup during dry years and periods of low renewable supply.
Dr La Croix says there are important gaps in our understanding of how impurities in carbon dioxide emissions will behave underground.
Dr Andrew La Croix
鈥淢ost research has focused on pure carbon dioxide, but emissions produced by power stations are more complex. We want to understand how these mixtures behave underground,鈥� he says. 鈥淚f we choose the right location, the carbon dioxide can stay underground for millions of years.鈥�
The process involves injecting gases into tiny spaces between rock grains, like how water soaks into a sponge. Over time, the gases can dissolve, react with minerals, become trapped within the rock, or even create new minerals.
Dr La Croix notes that New Zealand committing to reaching net-zero emissions by 2050 is a goal that might be achievable in some sectors, but that will unfortunately see other sectors face greater challenges.
These are often referred to as 鈥渉ard-to-abate鈥� industries, where switching to electric or low emissions is not straight forward.
鈥淭he trucking industry, for example, isn鈥檛 going to have electric fleets next week. Therefore, finding a way to remove that carbon dioxide and do something with it will benefit them.鈥�
Dr La Croix says the research could have wider relevance beyond New Zealand.
鈥淢any regions face similar challenges with energy costs and infrastructure. This approach could be used in other remote or constrained areas to improve reliability and reduce emissions.鈥�
The research Enhanced CO鈧� sequestration from coal-fired power plants in deep saline aquifers, will involve advanced lab experiments, field data and numerical modelling to understand how impure CO鈧� interacts with underground rock and water under real-world conditions, based in m膩tauranga M膩ori and environmental stewardship.
Dr La Croix says they will assess the Hamilton Basin as a potential storage site due to its deep reservoirs, low seismic risk and proximity to Huntly.
He welcomes the government funding awarded as it signals the importance of what is happening.
鈥淭hat makes me excited because the science and engineering are interesting and unique. But from a social point of view it shows we鈥檙e becoming more open to applying novel methods because of what we are seeing happen due to climate change.鈥�
Dr La Croix鈥檚 funding comes after the recent announcement of the Ministry of Business, Innovation and Employment (MBIE) funding extensions of the following 糖心TV projects:
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Physically plausible record-shattering drought events in a warming Aotearoa鈥� led by
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鈥楶robiotic Inoculants for Seaweed Hatcheries and Aquaculture鈥� led by
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鈥楽afe, solid-state hydrogen storage technology 鈥� Enabling New Zealand鈥檚 zero-carbon emissions targets鈥� led by
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鈥楽mart-antigens for ovine antiviral hyperimmune milk production鈥� led by
Research Programmes -
鈥楻estoring Urban Nature鈥� co-led by
Deputy Vice-Chancellor Research says these projects have significant real-world impact.
鈥淚t is wonderful to see the time and expertise of our researchers recognised in today鈥檚 competitive funding environment.鈥�
