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Genesis Energy take 50% Stake in CRL Energy: Boost for low-emission thermal future

Press Release

21 July 2008

Signing the shareholders agreement, foreground Murray Jackson, CEO Genesis Energy, middle, Chris Baker, Chairman of the Coal Association of New Zealand. Looking on Rob Whitney, CEO CRL Energy, and Alan Broome, Chairman of CRL Energy. Photo: Louise Thomas.

CRL Energy, New Zealand’s leading research company of low-emission coal technologies, today announced the purchase of a 50 percent stake in its company by Genesis Energy.   All parties see the transaction as a significant boost for research and development of low-emission coal technologies in New Zealand; these technologies which include high efficiency coal gasification, carbon capture and storage, and hydrogen manufacture, will provide New Zealand with the option to make sustainable, low-emission power and vehicle fuel from the country’s vast coal reserves. CRL Energy Chairman Alan Broome said that Genesis Energy’s investment was a vote of confidence in the organisation led by Chief Executive Rob Whitney, and reflected the world-class calibre of its researchers and research programme. “The involvement of Genesis Energy mea ns we can advance our coal research programmes along the pathway to eventual commercial application. “ New Zealand , through CRL Energy, has the opportunity to make a significant contribution to international research into the advanced coal and hydrogen technologies required to combat global climate change,” says Mr Broome. Genesis Energy has purchased the 50 percent shareholding in CRL Energy from the National Institute of Water & Atmospheric Research (NIWA). Genesis Energy Chief Executive Murray Jackson said the investment in CRL Energy is part of his company’s commitment to developing sustainable energy solutions for tomorrow.

“As the largest thermal generator of electricity in the country, we need to be able to address the effects our operations have on the environment. That’s why we are investing in CRL Energy - to promote the development of new thermal power technologies with fewer emissions and greater efficiency.

“We are looking at opportunities to work with CRL Energy to scale up this technology so it can be used with carbon capture and storage in future low-emission power generation from thermal sources,” says Mr Jackson.

Chris Baker, Executive Chairman of the Coal Association of New Zealand, which is the other 50 percent shareholder of CRL Energy, welcomed Genesis Energy’s investment.

“Genesis Energy’s decision to invest is recognition of the long term potential for New Zealand ’s coal resources to provide a sustainable, low-emissions energy source.” 

On sale of the shares, NIWA Chief Executive Officer John Morgan commented that NIWA’s two-year involvement with CRL Energy has forged strong links between the two research institutes.  “NIWA and CRL Energy have a combined expertise right across New Zealand’s energy resource portfolio and will continue to work together closely though our collaboration in the National Centre for Climate and Energy Solutions, and the ‘EnergyScape’ future energy pathways research for the Foundation for Research Science and Technology,” says Mr Morgan.

Background Information – CRL Energy

CRL Energy is an energy and environmental research and consulting company, with specialist knowledge in new energy technologies such as hydrogen and biomass conversion and a strong history in all aspects of fossil fuel energy, particularly coal-related research.

CRL Energy’s Foundation for Research, Science and Technology-funded research programme includes coal gasification, carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) and hydrogen production from coal, and environmental protocols for coal and mineral mining.

CRL Energy has already developed a working demonstration of fluid bed coal gasification at its Gracefield Laboratories in Lower Hutt . This process, which is highly suited to New Zealand’s reactive sub-bituminous and lignite coals, converts coal into synthetic gases which can be then used in gas-fired electricity generation and transport fuels (hydrogen) for New Zealand’s future vehicle fleet.

Fluid bed coal gasification is the preferred technology for co-gasification of coal and renewable biomass (such as wood waste). Combining the two energy sources in the same process would achieve not only zero emissions from coal-based power generation, but also a decrease in atmospheric CO₂, by enabling the capture and storage of carbon dioxide from both coal and biomass. Standalone biomass projects are not likely to be large enough for CCS.

CRL Energy research is not limited to coal, with projects on bioenergy, and low enthalpy geothermal utilisation. CRL Energy is part of the EnergyScape programme into future energy pathways led by NIWA and in collaboration with GNS, IRL and Scion. CRL Energy has been collaborating with BRANZ for a number of years on household energy demand research.

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©  2008 Louise Thomas. All rights reserved.