<article><p class="lead">Australian independent Woodside Petroleum is studying the conversion of carbon dioxide (CO2) and methane emissions into synthetic gases and then into ethanol using technology developed by US energy technology firms LanzaTech and ReCarbon. </p><p>The study includes the prospect of building a pilot carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) pilot plant in Perth in Western Australia (WA). Woodside is the operator of the 16.3mn t/yr North West Shelf LNG and the 4.3mn t/yr Pluto LNG, both offshore WA.</p><p>The proposed facility will recycle greenhouse gases (GHG) such as CO2 and methane into ethanol using ReCarbon and Lanzatech's technology, Woodside said. The ReCarbon technology will convert CO2 and methane into synthesis gas, with the LanzaTech technology fermenting the synthesis gas into ethanol. Ethanol is traditionally made from sugar cane and corn.</p><p>Australia's Clean Energy Regulatoris currently developing a CCUS method under the government's Emissions Reduction Fund.</p><p>Woodside in December last year said it will spend <a href="https://direct.argusmedia.com/newsandanalysis/article/2286755">$5bn on new energy projects by 2030</a> as part of its strategy to reach net zero GHG emissions by 2050.</p><p class="bylines">By Kevin Morrison</p></article>
