Electricity generation from fossil fuel combustion is a major source of CO₂ emissions (~32% of global CO₂ emissions). To effectively reduce CO₂ emissions in the short to medium term requires CO₂ capture and storage as a part of the solution.

The CSIRO Division of Energy Technology has undertaken a major CO₂ research program covering many aspects of the technology. On the laboratory scale, the chemical reactions involved in CO₂ capture and release by chemical absorption are being investigated and modelled to identify where and how improvements in efficiency can be made. Over 100 commercially available and newly synthesised amines have been screened for their ability to capture CO₂. A number of previously untested amines have been identified that give improved CO₂ capture capacity over the existing industry standard, monoethanolamine (MEA). This has led to the identification of unique structural features common to the top performing amines.