Chevron invests in carbon capture and blue carbon projects in Australia

Chevron Corporation, through its Australian subsidiaries, announced its commitment to two eco-friendly projects in Western Australia. These initiatives underscore Chevron’s dedication to a greener energy future.

Chevron is channeling funds to Carbon Sync, a Western Australian entity spearheading a soil carbon sequestration pilot. This project will span approximately 80,000 hectares of the state’s agricultural region. The initiative aims to capture carbon in the soil, a method that can significantly reduce greenhouse gas emissions.

In collaboration with Deakin University’s Blue Carbon Lab, Chevron is also venturing into a multi-year research project. This endeavor will investigate potential carbon dioxide (CO2) sequestration in Western Australia’s coastal wetlands. These wetlands, including saltmarshes, mangroves, and seagrass habitats, have immense potential for blue carbon storage.

​​”Blue carbon” refers to the carbon captured and stored by coastal and marine ecosystems, such as mangroves, saltmarshes, and seagrass meadows. These ecosystems are highly effective at sequestering and storing large amounts of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere, often at rates much higher than terrestrial forests. The carbon is stored in the plants themselves as well as in the sediment below them.

Barbara Harrison, vice president of Offsets and Emerging at Chevron New Energies, emphasised the company’s vision for a lower carbon future. She remarked, “Australia is pivotal to Chevron’s portfolio, and we see vast potential here to foster businesses that align with our green aspirations.”

David Fallon, Chevron Australia’s general manager of Energy Transition, echoed Harrison’s sentiments. He highlighted the strategic importance of these projects in Western Australia, noting their potential to provide valuable insights into soil carbon projects and the burgeoning demand for Australian Carbon Credit Units (ACCUs).

Louise Edmonds, CEO of Carbon Sync, expressed her enthusiasm about the collaboration. She believes that this partnership can revolutionise Western Australia’s agricultural sector, promoting sustainability and biodiversity.

Professor Peter Macreadie, at the helm of Deakin University’s Blue Carbon Lab, emphasised the need to demystify the potential of Western Australia’s blue carbon assets. The research aims to bridge the knowledge gap, exploring conservation and restoration opportunities for coastal wetlands.