Site Visits

From Molecules to Monitoring: Innovation at CCMAC and the CSIRO In-Situ Laboratory

Date & Time: Friday 30 October, 8:15am – 5pm
Departure: Bus departs at 8.15am from the Crown Towers concierge area
Cost: $120pp – Lunch, transport, facility access, PPE, and light refreshments are included.

Join fellow GHGT-18 delegates for a full-day technical tour exploring two of Western Australia’s leading carbon capture and storage research facilities. This unique experience will take participants from cutting-edge laboratory innovation to field-scale geological monitoring, providing a rare opportunity to see how scientific research is advancing practical CCS solutions.

The tour begins at the Carbon Capture Material Acceleration Centre (CCMAC) in Waterford. Co-funded by the Lower Carbon Grants Program – Gorgon Fund and CSIRO, the centre brings together leading researchers from CSIRO, The University of Western Australia and Curtin University. CCMAC is focused on accelerating the development of next-generation carbon capture materials through advanced research and automation. Delegates will gain insight into how scientists are discovering and testing new solid materials for carbon capture, developing standardised testing protocols, scaling up manufacturing processes and evaluating pilot-scale performance. The centre also plays an important role in training the next generation of scientists and engineers working to deliver scalable decarbonisation technologies for industry.

The tour then travels south to CSIRO’s In-Situ Laboratory near Harvey, approximately two hours from Perth. This world-class research facility is one of Australia’s leading field-scale sites for geological CO₂ storage and monitoring. Delegates will visit the Harvey wells and observe how advanced monitoring technologies—including fibre-optic sensors, geophones and seismic tools—are used to track the movement and behaviour of CO₂ underground in real time. Located within a fault-zone geological setting, the site offers researchers rare opportunities to study how CO₂ behaves in complex subsurface environments and to refine monitoring techniques critical for safe and effective carbon storage.

Together, these two visits provide a comprehensive look at the innovation pipeline for CCS—from materials discovery in the laboratory to real-world monitoring of stored carbon underground.

Beneath the Surface: Exploring Western Australia’s Core Library

Date & Time: Friday 30 October, 8:30am – 1pm
Departure: Bus departs at 8.30am from the Crown Towers concierge area
Cost: $100pp – Lunch and transport are included.

Step behind the scenes of one of Western Australia’s most significant geoscientific facilities with a guided visit to the Perth Core Library, operated by the Geological Survey of Western Australia (GSWA).As part of the Department of Mines, Petroleum and Exploration, GSWA plays a vital role in supporting the responsible development of the State’s natural resources by providing world-leading geoscientific data, expertise and insights to industry and government.

Located in Carlisle, the Perth Core Library is a purpose-built facility that preserves drill core from decades of mineral and petroleum exploration across Western Australia. Spanning approximately 6,500 square metres, the library houses around 15,500 pallet storage bays and extensive viewing areas capable of displaying up to 425 metres of drill core at a time. Delegates will gain a unique look at how these geological archives are curated, studied and used to unlock the subsurface knowledge that underpins modern resource development.

The tour will also highlight the HyLogger4 spectral scanning system, an advanced technology that uses visible and infrared spectroscopy alongside high-resolution digital imaging to rapidly and non-destructively analyse core samples. This cutting-edge capability supports efficient, safe and high-quality geoscientific interpretation and is increasingly important for understanding subsurface formations relevant to emerging energy technologies.

The visit concludes with a special display and discussion of drill core linked to carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects in Western Australia, offering delegates a tangible connection to the geological foundations that enable large-scale carbon storage solutions.

The tour is subject to a minimum number of paid registrations. GHGT-18 organisers reserve the right to cancel if this requirement is not met.