Australia’s advancements in carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) technology will be spotlighted on the world stage as Perth gears up to host the 2026 Greenhouse Gas Control Technologies (GHGT) Conference. 

Australian Energy Producers, in collaboration with the CSIRO, CO2CRC, and the Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment, and Water, will co-host the event, expected to attract over 1,000 researchers, industry leaders, and policymakers.

The GHGT Conference, organised by the IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme, serves as the premier global forum for discussing CCUS innovations aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. 

The 2026 event, marking the third time Australia has hosted GHGT, follows previous gatherings in Cairns (2000) and Melbourne (2018), reaffirming the country’s prominence in the CCUS domain.

Samantha McCulloch, chief executive of Australian Energy Producers, expressed pride in Australia’s selection, underscoring the nation’s influential role in CCUS technology development and deployment.

“Australia has two of the largest carbon capture and storage (CCS) projects globally – Chevron’s Gorgon Project and the Santos and Beach Energy Moomba Project,” McCulloch noted. 

“These projects are today storing emissions equivalent to taking one million cars off the road each year.”

CCUS, seen as a cornerstone for achieving net-zero emissions, is increasingly recognised as essential by leading environmental authorities. 

“The International Energy Agency, Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, and CSIRO all agree that there is no pathway to net zero without CCUS,” McCulloch added, emphasising Australia’s commitment to sustainable energy solutions.

The announcement of Australia as the GHGT-18 host coincided with a key milestone: the Moomba CCS Project recently completed its first carbon injection and achieved full ramp-up, signaling Australia’s growing CCUS capabilities. 

According to McCulloch, the country’s geological advantages, extensive industry experience, and collaborative ties with regional trading partners position it to scale up CCUS, fostering emission reduction efforts and opening pathways for job creation and investment opportunities.

Supported by Business Events Perth, GHGT-18 is expected to elevate Western Australia’s global reputation as a prime destination for significant environmental and industrial conferences.