Proposed ‘cleaner coal’ power plant

GE Energy is garnering support from governments and industry to build a $3 billion Integrated Gasification Combined Cycle (IGCC) power plant by 2015.

The plant, which would generate about 700 megawatts and would be situated in NSW or Queensland, generates electricity by turning coal into a fuel called syngas. The resulting CO₂ would be buried and stored underground.

GE global director of IGCC, Keith White, said coal was used to produce more than 80% of power in Australia, and coal exports generated $50 billion of revenue.

"We are technology agnostic because no single energy source is going to provide a solution," he said.

"Everybody is looking for answers. If you are looking for a carbon solution, IGCC is the only technology that can be built today."

GE Energy said an IGCC system will emit half the pollution of a more traditional pulverised coal plant for each unit of output.