TRUenergy, which owns and operates the Yallourn brown coal-fired power station east of Melbourne, is one of Australia’s largest producers of greenhouse gas emissions.
The company relies on coal for about 80% of the energy it generates and sells.
It has pledged not to build any more coal-fired power stations using traditional technology as part of its new climate change strategy released last week.
Its plans include introducing an immediate cap on carbon intensity, with reductions starting from 2010, and cutting emissions intensity by a third of 2007 levels (1.2 tonnes per megawatt hour) by 2020.
Managing director Richard McIndoe said the company could achieve these goals even as it continues working towards growing its share of the national energy market to 20%.
“Achievement of TRUenergy’s climate change strategy will depend on the introduction of an effective national emissions trading scheme that introduces a market-based price for carbon,” he said.
McIndoe said TRUenergy was likely to increase its investment in renewable energy and direct investment in low-emission technologies, such as the 400MW combined cycle gas-fired turbine, which will power its new generation facility at Tallawarra in NSW.
When complete, Tallawarra will produce 70% less emissions than existing brown coal-fired power stations, making it Australia’s most efficient fossil fuel power plant.
