Details of a carbon capture and storage project planned in Gippsland were explained to Drouin Rotarians at a recent meeting.
Speakers were CarbonNet project director Jane Burton and stakeholder engagement officer Amanda Griffith.
They said the project at Golden Beach on the East Gippsland coast was one of 17 in Australia and aimed to help Victoria reach net zero emissions by 2045.
Ms Burton said that when the project was initially planned 14 years ago, the aim was to take about 65 million tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) from the coal fired power stations. She said that figure had been substantially reduced with the closure of Hazelwood power station, with Yallourn to follow in 2028 and Loy Yang by 2030.
She said it would now seek other clients from industries such as hydrogen and fertiliser production, bioenergy and the steel and cement industries.
CO2 would be stored in the Pelican Storage site in Bass Strait.
Ms Burton stressed the capture and storage technology had been well proven in other parts of the world, and community consultation and discussions with relevant landholders have progressed well with formal agreements continuing to be signed.