We are often asked about our technology, our company and our progress...
About MCi
Our technical team consists of process engineers, chemical engineers, and geologists who are world leading authorities in mineral carbonation. Between them they have over 60 years combined experience working at the leading edge in this field.
Our Chief Executive Officer, Marcus Dawe, is one of Australia’s most innovative entrepreneurs. Chief Operating Officer, Sophia Hamblin Wang, is a high-profile representative of a new generation of international business leaders.
MCi is a world-leading Australian clean technology company based in Canberra with a global reference pilot plant in Newcastle.
We’ve developed a carbon platform that plays to Australia’s industrial strengths in bulk materials handling, research commercialisation and resource processing. Our objective is to demonstrate world-first applications of emissions reduction pathways.
We utilise a low-cost, low-pressure, low-energy chemical engineering process to transform CO2 emissions from any source into solid materials which can be used to create a range of products (either for existing industry markets or as specialty carbon products).
What motivates us
Our mission is to support Australia’s development as a hub for carbon processing and to actively contribute to the global decarbonisation of industry through the safe, long-term storage and utilisation of carbon dioxide. We believe in the potential for carbon neutrality and in the longer term, carbon negativity.
Our Objective
Our objective is to reduce CO2 emissions by helping a range of industries decarbonise their processes via mineral carbonation – including steel, cement, chemical production, power generation, manufacturing and mining.
Together with our industrial partners, we’re developing a number of green building products and low carbon applications for cements, mortars, plasterboard, binders and carbon products used in advanced manufacturing.
Our Strategy
Our strategy is to scale up our technology and apply it to a wider range of carbon sources than merely primary industries and the energy sector. We are focused on solutions that will support the nation’s long-term need for decarbonisation, beyond the initial challenges of the coal, oil and gas sectors.
How to get in touch
You can reach us through our contact page or send an email
How does it work?
Feed stock minerals such as serpentine magnesium silicate rock, slags or fly ashes are reacted with CO2 streams to form magnesium or calcium carbonates and silica, which are used to make valuable products.
What is the Carbon Platform?
Our plant’s advanced carbonation process involves reacting CO2 with alkaline earth silicate minerals or waste streams through an accelerated natural process called mineral carbonation. This method is differentiated from carbon capture and storage (CCS) by a chemical engineering ‘carbon platform’ which permanently stores and simultaneously creates value streams from the CO2 – allowing it to be integrated economically without the need for a carbon price.
How will MCi help decarbonise industries?
Our techno-economic models and detailed life-cycle-assessments (LCAs) have illustrated the business case for our technology. Decarbonisation of industry does not require a carbon price to be feasible. For this reason, Australian industry customers are actively supporting the MCi in pursuing demonstration plants. These can then be scaled up to industrial size with the capacity to treat more than 1 million tonnes of CO2 annually at a single location.
What is MCi's path forward?
Our clean technology sits firmly within a portfolio of carbon utilisation technologies that will ultimately be required to meet the Paris Agreement climate change targets.
We’re invested in pioneering the field of carbon utilisation and are conducting research and analysis into options for the development of plants throughout the world. Our goal is to develop a number of plants by 2030 that would be capable of converting 50,000 tonnes of CO2 into negative carbon materials, for use by product manufacturers and construction companies.
What is the distinction between CCU and CCS?
Currently, a range of industries plan to capture and inject their CO2 emissions underground, known as Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS).
In terms of emissions reduction, CCS is a linear ‘capture, inject and monitor forever’ model for CO2, storage – which means it does not produce an independent revenue stream or play into the circular economy. Therefore, it is completely reliant upon specific government regulations, such as a carbon pricing policy, to maintain its economic viability. There are also ongoing concerns over the ability of CCS technology to secure social license to operate and it has been ruled out in many jurisdictions. Most national governments have now moved to an investment strategy that balances risk by investing in a portfolio of solutions rather than favouring CCS.
MCi’s technology platform is invested in more sustainable, permanent solutions to the CO2 storage problem. CCU is a wide-ranging circular value solution that applies to a range of industries. We transform the carbon from CO2 emissions into new materials and valuable products rather than storing it as a waste underground.
How is Australia uniquely placed to develop the industry?
In terms of innovation, infrastructure, funding and human capital, Australia is well positioned to lead key aspects of the industry. In addition to a first mover advantage, Australian industry has a competitive advantage in its mineral processing and built environment strengths.
We believe that increased R&D and greater collaboration will result in Australia’s leadership of the commercialisation of our technology. MCi already operates world leading facilities and produces cutting edge R&D. Our potential is reflected in the company we keep, namely global brands and industry leaders. Which is why our technology continues to be validated by the world’s leading materials manufacturers.
The business case for our technology has been proven throughout our 26 consecutive quarters of milestone-driven R&D. As a company already leading the field of mineral carbonation, we consider ongoing investment in the decarbonisation of industry as crucial to the momentum we have developed – particularly in specialised sectors such as nickel mining and energy storage.
How does MCi compare to its competitors?
We believe we are the world leader in mineral carbonation. We continue to receive global recognition for our R&D, including the 2018 Resource Innovator of the Year award at the New Materials Summit in Berlin.
We believe there is room for all solutions-based players and welcome the development of a stable and collaborative industry.
What is the future of the industry?
MCi remains focused on demonstrating world-first applications of emissions reduction pathways. We believe that Australia can help lead the development of the industry. We’re currently focused on increasing both our technical and commercial readiness levels to realise this goal.
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