Our successes
As part of our approach to climate change, we have implemented a number of initiatives to change the way we do our business.
Coal to liquid project
TRUenergy has entered into a Hosting Agreement with Ignite Energy Resources (IER) to transform low-efficiency brown coal directly into high value oils and cleaner coal products.
The first step in this project will be the development of a commercial demonstration plant that will utilise IER’s direct coal-to-oil process to transform brown coal from TRUenergy Yallourn’s brown coal mine.
Earlier studies have predicted that the cleaner coal products produced using this technology will reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 40 percent when used for power generation. At present, TRUenergy Yallourn utilises low-efficiency brown coal, which produces higher greenhouse gas emissions when burnt as a result of its high moisture content. By converting this fuel source into high-value oil and coal products, IER and TRUenergy hope to provide a cleaner, secure energy source, while at the same time allowing Victoria and other economies to continue utilising this abundant fuel source.
Environmental Performance
Consideration for the environmental impact of our operations is integrated into our top-level decision-making processes as well as our day to day operations.
All TRUenergy heavy industry operations are certified to international Environmental Management Systems standard ISO 14001, requiring further, systematic assessment and monitoring of our environmental performance against established targets.
Operational improvements
Ongoing operational improvements within TRUenergy’s diverse business operations take place almost every day. These initiatives deliver better, more efficient use of resources, reduce our impact on the environment and help to improve the level of service we provide our customers.
Procurement
TRUenergy has launched a Sustainable Procurement policy to strengthen the quality and cost effectiveness of the products and services it procures. New procurement procedures underpin this policy, including tendering and ongoing contract management measures to ensure safety, health, environment, quality and financial competencies consistently meet TRUenergy standards.
Improving brown coal
TRUenergy Yallourn is collaborating with other Latrobe Valley generators and major research groups to investigate more efficient means of generating electricity using brown coal. A participant in six research projects overall, TRUenergy has invested in projects investigating gasification of brown coal and coal drying techniques.
TRUenergy and its research partners are exploring different means of improving the performance of coal as a fuel source. Early tests show techniques like coal drying and gasification have the potential to substantially reduce greenhouse gas pollution as well.
For TRUenergy, understanding the changes that may be required to its facilities for using dried coal, is not only important for optimising operations but will also ensure safe and reliable future power plant operation.
Natural Gas Vehicle program
TRUenergy’s expanding Natural Gas Vehicle program offers business customers attractive economic and environmental benefits by assisting them to convert truck, bus and forklift fleets from diesel fuel to more efficient natural gas.
With relatively low upfront costs, conversion from diesel to natural gas for fleet vehicles offers businesses like manufacturing, large retailers, transport and facilities operators the chance to reduce transport related greenhouse gas emissions by up to 22 percent.
Contact TRUenergy Business Services for more information on the Natural Gas Program.