Our carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) studies are supporting Infrastructure South Australia’s net zero goals while unlocking long-term economic opportunity for the region.
Setting the pathway to net zero
South Australia is working toward a low carbon future while sustaining industrial productivity and regional growth. To support this transition, Infrastructure South Australia commissioned the CCUS infrastructure and national supply chain study as part of the state’s 20-year infrastructure strategy. We were engaged to assess how a CCUS industry could be established at scale — connecting domestic emissions sources via common user infrastructure with geological storage — to inform investment, procurement and policy decisions across the state.
A CCUS common user hub aggregates emitters with common infrastructure to prepare the CO₂ for transport in a single location to avoid unnecessary duplication of processes, including dehydration and compression.
Navigating uncertainty in an emerging industry
CCUS technology is widely recognised as necessary to reach global net-zero ambitions, yet its deployment remains inconsistent and dependent on multiple variables. In order to assess the opportunity for South Australia policy makers require clarity on domestic and global carbon capture and storage (CCS) supply chains, technology readiness, and the location and scale of carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions. Transport infrastructure and geological storage viability added further uncertainty, while stakeholder coordination across government and the need to build public confidence introduced additional layers of complexity. A fragmented view would not support long-term planning.
Domestic supply chain: Captured CO₂ from local industrial emitters is aggregated and conditioned at a common-user hub, then transported by pipeline via booster stations for permanent injection into underground geological storage.
Global supply chain: Liquid CO₂ shipped from overseas is unloaded at port, stored and reconditioned to pipeline specification, then combined with the Whyalla CCUS hub network for transport to underground storage.
Connecting systems across the value chain
We approached the study as a full-system assessment, linking each part of the CCUS value chain into a single evidence base. We identified key CO₂ point sources across Australia, particularly those from hard-to-abate industries, and assessed their suitability for capture and transport. We mapped logistics options and evaluated how common user infrastructure hubs could support clustering, reducing duplication and enabling scale.
At the same time, we screened and assessed existing and potential geological storage locations across South Australia prior to the development of early-stage engineering and indicative capital cost estimates for the preferred infrastructure option. Our work extended beyond technical feasibility to include policy and regulatory review framework, supply chain requirements for capture, transport and storage, as well as economic analysis across different carbon value scenarios.
A CCUS supply chain integrates a range of technologies and infrastructure, including capture technology, conditioning and compression facilities, transportation, injection infrastructure and geological storage sites or utilisation.
Turning complexity into insight
A defining feature of the work was how we translated technical complexity into usable insight. We developed a Geographic Information System (GIS)-enabled digital platform combining spatial data with an interactive interface. This allowed the client to visualise emission sources, overland pipeline corridors and storage sites simultaneously, and to explore how different infrastructure configurations could evolve over time.
This integrated approach helped bridge the gap between technical analysis and strategic decision making. Rather than relying on static outputs, stakeholders could test assumptions, understand trade-offs and build a shared view of how a CCUS system could develop across the state.
Building the foundations of a CCUS industry
The study provides a structured pathway for developing a CCUS industry in South Australia. It articulates the role CCUS can play in achieving net zero, identifies viable emissions clusters and storage opportunities, and assesses the logistics and supply chain needed to support deployment. It also highlights the potential for regional economic activity linked to infrastructure development and industrial decarbonisation.
By combining technical, economic and spatial analysis, the work supports more informed policy, investment and procurement decisions. It equips the state with a clearer understanding of where to act first, how to sequence infrastructure and how to position itself within a national and global CCUS supply chain.