ACI’s technology R&D portfolio has been constructed to achieve a strategic balance over three areas of activity:

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1. Low emissions value-added products from carbon resources

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Research into a range of processes that can produce export-quality products from low cost carbon-rich resources. The technologies needed to upgrade these resources include primary processes such as gasification, pyrolysis, extraction and CO₂ recycling, and additive processes such as polymerisation, 3D printing, laser etching and fibre spinning. These technologies may be further supplemented with emerging developments in renewable energy and hydrogen.

2. CO₂ capture technologies

Research into the integration of a range of CO₂ capture technologies into industrial carbon upgrading processes. The aim is to reduce the cost of the carbon capture technologies to enhance the cost-effectiveness of low-emissions carbon upgrading processes.  

 

3. Low emissions power from lignite

Research into technologies that will allow power production from lignite to be cost-effectively integrated with carbon capture and storage.  

 

The proportion of the total value of the research portfolio that was allocated to each of these priority areas during the period 2010-2015 is shown below.