AUSTRALIAN CARBON INNOVATION
Australian Carbon Innovation (ACI) was a not-for-profit company with a mandate to co-invest with stakeholders in carbon innovation (including CO₂ recycle), hydrogen utilisation and emissions reduction technologies. ACI was established in December 2009 as Brown Coal Innovation Australia (BCIA), with a change of name in March 2019 to reflect a focus on manufacture of high value, low-emissions products through carbon innovation.
Unfortunately, research funding to ACI has been discontinued, forcing a wind up of ACI's operations
as of 30 June 2024.
$57.5M
$15.9M
70
24
12
>650
Total project portfolio value
Research funding to date
Projects funded
Postgraduate Scholarships
Undergraduate Scholarships
Published papers
LIGNITE IN A LOW EMISSIONS FUTURE
In association with industry and tertiary education partners, ACI focused strongly on creating opportunities to secure the scientific, engineering and trades expertise needed to develop new industries based on low-emissions carbon technologies.
The research program funded by ACI established that Victoria’s unique lignite and CO₂ storage capacity provide unmatched opportunities for new industries and high paying jobs in the Latrobe Valley. The research outcomes are summarised in ACI’s legacy report,
'The unrealised potential of Victorian lignite: Exploring the net-zero research opportunities'.
SKILLS FOR INDUSTRY
Availability and accessibility of human resource expertise is of critical concern for current and future carbon-based industries. ACI has created a legacy fund with Federation University Australia to create opportunities for students from the Gippsland region to pursue STEM studies in the engineering and allied disciplines.
From 2025, Australian Carbon Innovation Scholarships of $10,000 each will be available to support undergraduate studies in engineering or science (chemistry, physics, mechatronics) with a strong preference for engineering at Federation University’s Gippsland campus. Application details are available at Australian Carbon Innovations Scholarships - Federation University Australia.