Australia’s national science agency, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), has launched a new research program called CarbonLock. The program is aimed at developing innovative ways to permanently remove carbon dioxide (CO2) from the Earth’s atmosphere. The program will receive a funding of AUD 20 million ($13.1 million) and is the latest Future Science Platform (FSP) from the CSIRO.
The CarbonLock program, which was announced on March 8, 2023, is a significant development in Australia’s efforts to tackle climate change. The program’s primary objective is to develop new and innovative ways to permanently store CO2 and prevent it from entering the atmosphere. The CSIRO has identified carbon removal as a crucial strategy to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, and CarbonLock is a critical step in achieving this goal.
The program will leverage the CSIRO’s expertise in fields such as materials science, chemistry, and environmental science to develop new technologies that can remove carbon from the atmosphere. CarbonLock will also collaborate with other research institutions and industry partners to maximize the program’s impact. The program’s success will be measured by its ability to develop practical, scalable, and cost-effective solutions for carbon removal.
CarbonLock is part of a series of long-term projects initiated by the CSIRO’s Future Science Platform (FSP), which is aimed at making significant breakthroughs in science and technology. The CSIRO’s FSP program provides funding to research teams to work on high-impact projects that have the potential to transform various industries. The CarbonLock program is one of the latest FSP initiatives and will run for the next five years.
The launch of the CarbonLock program is a significant development in Australia’s efforts to combat climate change. The program’s focus on developing innovative solutions for carbon removal will be critical in achieving the country’s target of net-zero emissions by 2050. The program’s success will depend on its ability to collaborate with other research institutions and industry partners, as well as develop practical and cost-effective solutions for carbon removal. The CarbonLock program is one of the latest initiatives under the CSIRO’s Future Science Platform, which aims to promote breakthroughs in science and technology.
According to Andrew Lenton, the director of CarbonLock, the creation of negative emissions technologies (NETs) is essential to help Australia achieve its goal of net-zero emissions by 2050 and limit global warming to below 2 degrees Celsius. He explained that NETs offer a promising pathway to achieving these goals in a media release.
CarbonLock’s primary focus is on developing the next generation of permanent carbon storage solutions to complement existing research on nature-based carbon storage solutions and geological Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS). The program recognizes the crucial role that carbon storage plays in achieving net-zero emissions and preventing global warming.
The CarbonLock team will investigate the potential of direct air capture (DAC), which is a promising emerging technology. DAC captures CO2 from the air and stores it for future use or disposal. The team will work on exploring the possibilities of this technology, along with other carbon storage solutions.
CarbonLock’s research will address one of the most significant challenges in addressing climate change, which is finding effective ways to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. CarbonLock’s approach is to develop practical and cost-effective solutions for carbon storage that can be scaled up to achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions.
The program’s success will depend on its ability to work closely with other research institutions and industry partners to develop and implement innovative carbon storage solutions. CarbonLock will leverage the expertise and resources of these partners to ensure that its research leads to tangible outcomes and can have a significant impact on reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
CarbonLock’s focus on developing new and innovative carbon storage solutions, including direct air capture, is a significant step forward in Australia’s efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050. The program’s collaborative approach, leveraging the expertise of industry partners and research institutions, is essential to its success. CarbonLock’s research will address one of the most significant challenges in tackling climate change, and its outcomes will be critical in the fight against global warming.
Andrew Lenton, the director of CarbonLock, revealed that the research program aims to investigate new materials that can speed up and scale up the direct air capture (DAC) process. The program will focus on training artificial intelligence to develop novel composite materials to support the DAC process. This approach aims to increase the efficiency of the DAC process, which can capture CO2 from the air and store it for later use or disposal.
In addition to developing new materials for DAC, the CarbonLock team is also exploring the potential of in-situ mineral carbonation. This process involves turning carbon dioxide into stone by reacting atmospheric carbon with rock to form new rock. According to Lenton, Australia has a huge advantage in this area. The program’s focus on in-situ mineral carbonation offers an exciting opportunity to develop a new method of permanently storing carbon dioxide.
The research into in-situ mineral carbonation and DAC is part of CarbonLock’s wider efforts to find practical and cost-effective solutions for carbon storage that can be scaled up to achieve significant reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The program recognizes the critical role that carbon storage plays in achieving net-zero emissions and preventing global warming.
CarbonLock’s research will not only contribute to Australia’s efforts to achieve net-zero emissions by 2050, but it will also make significant contributions to the global efforts to tackle climate change. By developing new materials for DAC and exploring the potential of in-situ mineral carbonation, CarbonLock’s research is helping to address one of the most significant challenges in tackling climate change, finding effective ways to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.
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