Research findings exploring the economic, technological and emissions-related factors influencing the hub’s viability have now been published and are available at the links below.
Task 0: Low Emissions Hub Vision Identification
Task 0 established a shared vision for a CCUS Hub in the Northern Territory through extensive stakeholder engagement, defining key success factors and technical criteria. The report outlines a pathway for expanding CO₂ capture and storage from 5 million tonnes annually to over 25 million tonnes annually by 2040, and establishes a foundation for future development and further research.
- Final report - Low Emission Hub Vision Identification – Task 0
- Final report - Low Emission Hub Vision Identification – Task 0
Task 1: Northern Territory Economy, Industries and Emissions
Task 1 reviewed the Northern Territory’s economy, key industrial sectors, and historical emissions, providing a baseline for future emissions avoidance and abatement scenarios through to 2050. It highlights the need for investment in established and emerging industries to meet economic and emissions goals, including the proposed Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct, and concludes that rapid decarbonisation will require a combination of technologies like renewable electrification, hydrogen, and CCUS.
- Final report - Northern Territory Economy, Industries and Emissions – Task 1
- Final report - Northern Territory Economy, Industries and Emissions – Task 1
Task 2: Regional Understanding & Context
Task 2 (in progress) develops an understanding of the current economies, industries and emission sources and the changes required in the region to meet long term energy needs, meet emissions reduction goals and how they could impact on the CCUS hub business case in the Darwin region.
Task 3: Potential Market Analysis
Task 3 assessed current and future demand for low-emissions energy and chemical products in the NT’s major trade markets—Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore, and Taiwan. Focusing on hydrogen, ammonia, and chemical feedstocks, the report finds robust demand through 2050 across all IEA scenarios, presenting significant export opportunities for the Northern Territory.
Task 4: International Hub Examples
Task 4 provides an overview of international CCUS projects and a review and summary of selected low emission hub developments, with a particular emphasis on European hub examples. In addition to the synthesis of publicly available data the report also includes the results of CSIRO interviews with hub proponents, participants and policy makers in other jurisdictions.
- Final report - International Hub Examples - Task 4
- Final report - International Hub Examples - Task 4
Task 5: Sector Coupling Opportunities
Task 05 explored sector coupling options for existing and future industries that could be developed as part of the proposed Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct (MASDP). The report concludes that sector coupling could be used to create a low emissions production hub for the synthesis of ammonia, urea, methanol and derivatives.
- Final report - Sector Coupling Opportunities ‒ Task 5
- Final report - Sector Coupling Opportunities ‒ Task 5)
Task 6: Concept specification / statement of requirement
Task 6 developed a concept-level overview for a CCUS hub, identifying potential components, infrastructure needs, and estimated costs. Using data from the Northern Territory Government, the report sets out a foundation for detailed design and cost analysis, and suggests phased CCUS hub development to enhance flexibility and control costs.
- Final report - Concept Specification / Statement of Requirement – Task 6
- Final report - Concept Specification / Statement of Requirement – Task 6)
Task 7: Power Generation Options Analysis
Task 7 analysed electricity system options for the NT LEH and uses modelling to develop cost estimates for a range of scenarios. A least-cost optimisation model was used to explore the mix and location of electricity generation technologies, and associated electricity transmission and pipeline transport that could meet the industrial electricity demand and the modelled hydrogen production targets for the MASDP.
- Final report - Power Generation Options Analysis – Task 7
- Final report - Power Generation Options Analysis – Task 7
Task 8: Transnational CO2 Shipping - Logistics and Technoeconomic Model
Task 8 involved a high-level assessment of the technical, logistical, and cost considerations around CO2 shipping. The report used techno-economic modelling to estimate the levelised cost of importing CO2 from the Port of Kawasaki, Japan, to the Port of Darwin
- Final report - Transnational CO2 Shipping - Logistics and Technoeconomic Model – Task 8
- Final report - Transnational CO2 Shipping - Logistics and Technoeconomic Model – Task 8
Task 9: Opportunities for CO2 Utilisation in the Northern Territory
Task 9 explored opportunities for CO2 utilisation in the Northern Territory and calculated the levelised cost of production for five CO2 utilisation products with potential for deployment in the Northern Territory. The report concludes that a hub model can support the deployment and scale-up of CO2 utilisation activities through increased efficiencies over the medium to long term.
- Final report - Opportunities for CO2 Utilisation in the Northern Territory – Task 9
- Final report - Opportunities for CO2 Utilisation in the Northern Territory – Task 9
Next steps
The initial research covered in the first set of reports forms the scientific basis of further analysis which will set out possible pathways for the Low Emissions Hub, including shared infrastructure to enable CCUS.
This work is underway and the final series of reports will be made available when they are complete.
Research findings exploring the economic, technological and emissions-related factors influencing the hub’s viability have now been published and are available at the links below.
Task 0: Low Emissions Hub Vision Identification
Task 0 established a shared vision for a CCUS Hub in the Northern Territory through extensive stakeholder engagement, defining key success factors and technical criteria. The report outlines a pathway for expanding CO₂ capture and storage from 5 million tonnes annually to over 25 million tonnes annually by 2040, and establishes a foundation for future development and further research.
- Final report - Low Emission Hub Vision Identification – Task 0 PDF (7 MB)
- Final report - Low Emission Hub Vision Identification – Task 0 TXT (36 KB)
Task 1: Northern Territory Economy, Industries and Emissions
Task 1 reviewed the Northern Territory’s economy, key industrial sectors, and historical emissions, providing a baseline for future emissions avoidance and abatement scenarios through to 2050. It highlights the need for investment in established and emerging industries to meet economic and emissions goals, including the proposed Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct, and concludes that rapid decarbonisation will require a combination of technologies like renewable electrification, hydrogen, and CCUS.
- Final report - Northern Territory Economy, Industries and Emissions – Task 1 PDF (9 MB)
- Final report - Northern Territory Economy, Industries and Emissions – Task 1 TXT (127 KB)
Task 2: Regional Understanding & Context
Task 2 (in progress) develops an understanding of the current economies, industries and emission sources and the changes required in the region to meet long term energy needs, meet emissions reduction goals and how they could impact on the CCUS hub business case in the Darwin region.
Task 3: Potential Market Analysis
Task 3 assessed current and future demand for low-emissions energy and chemical products in the NT’s major trade markets—Japan, South Korea, China, Singapore, and Taiwan. Focusing on hydrogen, ammonia, and chemical feedstocks, the report finds robust demand through 2050 across all IEA scenarios, presenting significant export opportunities for the Northern Territory.
- Final report - Potential Market Analysis - Task 3 PDF (6 MB)
- Final report - Potential Market Analysis - Task 3 TXT (178 KB)
Task 4: International Hub Examples
Task 4 provides an overview of international CCUS projects and a review and summary of selected low emission hub developments, with a particular emphasis on European hub examples. In addition to the synthesis of publicly available data the report also includes the results of CSIRO interviews with hub proponents, participants and policy makers in other jurisdictions.
- Final report - International Hub Examples - Task 4 PDF (9 MB)
- Final report - International Hub Examples - Task 4 TXT (188 KB)
Task 5: Sector Coupling Opportunities
Task 05 explored sector coupling options for existing and future industries that could be developed as part of the proposed Middle Arm Sustainable Development Precinct (MASDP). The report concludes that sector coupling could be used to create a low emissions production hub for the synthesis of ammonia, urea, methanol and derivatives.
- Final report - Sector Coupling Opportunities ‒ Task 5 PDF (6 MB)
- Final report - Sector Coupling Opportunities ‒ Task 5 TXT (198 KB))
Task 6: Concept specification / statement of requirement
Task 6 developed a concept-level overview for a CCUS hub, identifying potential components, infrastructure needs, and estimated costs. Using data from the Northern Territory Government, the report sets out a foundation for detailed design and cost analysis, and suggests phased CCUS hub development to enhance flexibility and control costs.
- Final report - Concept Specification / Statement of Requirement – Task 6 PDF (19 MB)
- Final report - Concept Specification / Statement of Requirement – Task 6 TXT (151 KB))
Task 7: Power Generation Options Analysis
Task 7 analysed electricity system options for the NT LEH and uses modelling to develop cost estimates for a range of scenarios. A least-cost optimisation model was used to explore the mix and location of electricity generation technologies, and associated electricity transmission and pipeline transport that could meet the industrial electricity demand and the modelled hydrogen production targets for the MASDP.
- Final report - Power Generation Options Analysis – Task 7 PDF (7 MB)
- Final report - Power Generation Options Analysis – Task 7 TXT (132 KB)
Task 8: Transnational CO2 Shipping - Logistics and Technoeconomic Model
Task 8 involved a high-level assessment of the technical, logistical, and cost considerations around CO2 shipping. The report used techno-economic modelling to estimate the levelised cost of importing CO2 from the Port of Kawasaki, Japan, to the Port of Darwin
- Final report - Transnational CO2 Shipping - Logistics and Technoeconomic Model – Task 8 PDF (5 MB)
- Final report - Transnational CO2 Shipping - Logistics and Technoeconomic Model – Task 8 TXT (122 KB)
Task 9: Opportunities for CO2 Utilisation in the Northern Territory
Task 9 explored opportunities for CO2 utilisation in the Northern Territory and calculated the levelised cost of production for five CO2 utilisation products with potential for deployment in the Northern Territory. The report concludes that a hub model can support the deployment and scale-up of CO2 utilisation activities through increased efficiencies over the medium to long term.
- Final report - Opportunities for CO2 Utilisation in the Northern Territory – Task 9 PDF (4 MB)
- Final report - Opportunities for CO2 Utilisation in the Northern Territory – Task 9 TXT (247 KB)
Next steps
The initial research covered in the first set of reports forms the scientific basis of further analysis which will set out possible pathways for the Low Emissions Hub, including shared infrastructure to enable CCUS.
This work is underway and the final series of reports will be made available when they are complete.