What CO2CRC does

CO2CRC is Australia's leading independent, not-for-profit carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) research organisation, founded in 2003 and headquartered in East Melbourne. The organisation's core asset is the Otway International Test Centre (OITC) in western Victoria — an Australian National Research Asset and the only field-scale geological CO2 storage research facility of its kind globally, with over $200 million invested and more than 100,000 tonnes of CO2 cumulatively stored and monitored across multiple injection stages since 2006.

CO2CRC's technology portfolio spans the full CCUS value chain — CO2 capture, utilisation, storage, hydrogen storage, and direct air capture — anchored by proprietary monitoring methods (downhole seismic using SOV/DAS fibre optics, pressure tomography, earth tides monitoring, distributed strain sensing) validated at commercially relevant scale. The organisation applies machine learning (convolutional neural networks) to automated formation micro-imaging log interpretation and to predictive modelling of CO2 plume migration, and operates the IKMS digital knowledge platform for member research access.

The business model is membership-based: oil & gas majors (BHP, Chevron, ExxonMobil, BP, Shell, Woodside, Santos, TotalEnergies, Eni, Equinor, INPEX, Petrobras), research institutions (CSIRO, Geoscience Australia, seven Group of Eight universities plus Stanford, Cambridge, Curtin), and government agencies fund collaborative pre-commercialisation research. Secondary revenue streams include CCUS education and training courses (CCUS Fundamentals, Storage Courses, Advanced CO2 Storage, CCS Essentials for Non-technical Professionals, and Tailor-made Courses). Government co-investment, particularly the proposed $240 million Future Program 2026–2035 seeking $12 million per annum Commonwealth support, is a material funding pillar alongside membership fees.

Name

CO2CRC

Legal name

CO2CRC

Website

https://co2crc.com.au

Company type

Private

Founded year

2003

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

CO2CRC is Australia's leading not-for-profit carbon capture, utilisation, and storage research organisation, operating the Otway International Test Centre — a world-unique field-scale CO2 storage facility — for oil & gas majors, universities, and government partners.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) Research Services

NAICS

Scientific Research and Development Services (5417), Environmental Consulting Services (54162), Geophysical Surveying and Mapping Services (541360), Other Scientific and Technical Consulting Services (54169)

SIC

Services-Commercial Physical & Biological Research (8731), Services-Testing Laboratories (8734), Oil & Gas Field Services, Nec (1389)

akta.pro primary industry

GHG Monitoring Plans & Sampling Design (Field Protocols, QA/QC) (EUABACAE)

akta.pro secondary industries

Remote Sensing & Geospatial MRV (Satellite, Aerial, LiDAR, SAR) (EUABACAF), Permanence, Reversal & Buffer Pool Analytics (Risk Scoring, Monitoring, Claims) (EUABACAL), Emissions Factors, LCA & Product Carbon Footprint (PCF) Platforms (EUABAEAD), Data Assurance, Audit & Attestation (ISAE 3000/3410, SOC, Chain-of-Custody) (EUABACAJ)

Keywords

• Carbon capture storage
• Geological CO2 storage
• CCS research services
• Subsurface monitoring technology
• CCUS education training

Headquarters

HQ city

Carlton South

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: CO2CRC operates as a membership-based organisation. Companies and institutions become members to access unique high-quality datasets, leading-edge research, networking opportunities, webinars, events, and technical collaboration.
2. Education and Training Courses: CO2CRC provides CCUS educational courses including CCUS Fundamentals, Storage Courses, Advanced CO2 Storage, CCS Essentials for Non-technical Professionals, and Tailor-made courses. These generate revenue from participants.

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

CO2CRC is Australia's leading not-for-profit carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCS) research organisation, operating the Otway International Test Centre (OITC) as a field-scale subsurface research facility for controlled CO2 injection, monitoring and storage experimentation. It delivers applied CCS research across capture, utilisation, storage, hydrogen storage and direct air capture; offers a structured portfolio of CCUS education and training courses; and provides members with digital access to research datasets through the IKMS knowledge platform. Members from industry, academia and government gain access to proprietary monitoring technologies, unique field-scale datasets, technical expertise and collaborative research programs.

Product overview

CO2CRC's product and service portfolio is structured as a research organisation offering a combination of world-class field research infrastructure, educational programs, and digital knowledge tools. At its core is the Otway International Test Centre (OITC), an Australian National Research Asset — the world's only facility dedicated to controlled, repeatable field-scale CO2 storage experimentation. This is supported by an educational portfolio comprising CCUS Fundamentals Course, CO2 Storage Courses, Advanced CO2 Storage, CCS Essentials for Non-technical Professionals, and Tailor-made Courses. CO2CRC also provides digital access through the IKMS (Intelligent Knowledge Management System) and CCUS Knowledge Hub for research publications. The organisation conducts specialised storage research programs covering depleted hydrocarbon reservoirs, saline formations, CO2 with impurities, monitoring and verification (M&V), reservoir characterisation and modelling, fault influence, and microbubble injection. Additional offerings include CO2 Utilisation Research (CO2-EOR and carbon-to-products), the CO2CRC CCS Symposium annual event, and the Future Program (a proposed $240M, 10-year applied research initiative).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• CO2Tech: Carbon management technologies brand, website co2tech.com.au
• Otway International Test Centre (OITC)
• IKMS - Intelligent Knowledge Management System
• GeoCquest
• HyCaps
• CCS Insights Newsletter

Products and services

• Otway International Test Centre (OITC) An Australian National Research Asset owned and operated by CO2CRC, providing the world's only fully permitted field-scale subsurface research infrastructure for controlled CO2 injection, monitoring and storage experimentation. Members and partners access the facility to validate CCS technologies at commercially relevant scale and generate field-scale datasets.
• IKMS – Intelligent Knowledge Management System A member-facing digital platform that enables members to search, query and engage with CO2CRC's research publications, technical material and CCS sector developments using AI-assisted knowledge retrieval.
• CCUS Fundamentals Course A full-day in-person training course covering the fundamentals of carbon capture and geological storage of CO2, covering fossil fuel-based energy generation, CO2-rich natural gas production and emissions from cement, ammonia, iron and steel production. Aimed at technical professionals entering the CCS field.
• CO2 Storage Courses Specialised training courses covering CO2 storage operations, characterisation and management for technical professionals in industry, government and academia.
• Advanced CO2 Storage Advanced-level training on CO2 storage for experienced technical professionals, covering deeper expertise in storage site characterisation, monitoring and modelling.
• CCS Essentials for Non-technical Professionals Online workshop-style course covering CCS fundamentals, common misconceptions, complexities, opportunities and CCS projects across Australia, designed for non-technical professionals working within or around the CCS ecosystem.
• Tailor-made CCUS Courses Customised CCUS training programs designed and delivered for specific organisations, teams or industry groups based on their particular needs and context.
• CCUS Knowledge Hub An online knowledge repository providing access to CO2CRC's research publications, technical reports and CCUS sector information for members and stakeholders.

Quantifiable outcome

• 15,050 tonnes of CO2 safely sequestered in Otway Stage 3 Project
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers10 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

AI capability6 records

Feature8 records

Partnerships

24 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• BHPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerKey partner in the GeoCquest Program, a major collaborative initiative addressing challenges in geological CO2 storage through understanding and effectively utilising highly heterogeneous reservoirs. BHP's Vice President Climate and Environment has been instrumental to the program's success.
• ChevroncoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the GeoCquest Field Validation (GFV) project at the OITC. Contributed expertise during core workshop at Geoscience Australia repository.
• ExxonMobilcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the GFV project for field validation of CO2 storage technologies and heterogeneous reservoir research.
• BPcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in the GFV project supporting CO2 storage field validation work at the Otway International Test Centre.
• CSIROcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with CO2CRC and Geoscience Australia in developing the concept of geological storage of large volumes of hydrogen in porous rock. Contributing to Australia's first demonstration of industrial H2 geological storage in porous reservoirs.
• Geoscience AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner with CO2CRC and CSIRO on hydrogen geological storage research. Hosts core repository providing access to nationally significant geological samples for research, industry and government users.
• RITE (Research Institute of Innovative Technology for the Earth)coreTechnology or IntegrationJoint collaboration to assess microbubble CO2 injection technology developed by RITE. Field-scale trial planned at OITC to evaluate technology that could decrease costs and improve technical efficiencies of CCUS.
• Curtin UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaborating with CO2CRC and RITE on Distributed Strain Sensing (DSS) technology to reduce cost of reservoir and well surveillance and improve CO2 migration monitoring.
• University of MelbournecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in GeoCquest Program alongside BHP and leading international research institutions. Contributing to understanding heterogeneous reservoirs in geological CO2 storage.
• Stanford UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in GeoCquest Program bringing world-class expertise to address challenges in geological CO2 storage and heterogeneous reservoir characterisation.
• University of CambridgecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner in GeoCquest Program contributing to international research collaboration on CO2 storage.
• Callide Oxyfuel Services Pty LtdminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSupported CO2CRC research on impact of storing CO2 with impurities, providing CO2 from Callide A oxy-combustion CO2 capture demonstration plant in Queensland.
• PetrobrascoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner in CO2CRC's Future Program 2026-2035, contributing to applied CCS research.
• EnicoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner in CO2CRC's Future Program contributing to long-term CCS research.
• TotalEnergiescoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner in Future Program; co-owner of Northern Lights offshore CCS project in Norway.
• INPEXcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry partner in Future Program; co-sponsor of CCS Symposium 2026.
• EquinorcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerHost of 8th International Workshop on Offshore Geological CO2 Storage at Equinor Sandsli; owner of Northern Lights project.
• Australian National University (ANU)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOne of seven Group of Eight universities partnering in CO2CRC's Future Program 2026-2035.
• University of AdelaidecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup of Eight university partner in Future Program.
• Monash UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup of Eight university partner in Future Program.
• University of QueenslandcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup of Eight university partner in Future Program.
• UNSW SydneycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup of Eight university partner in Future Program.
• University of Western AustraliacoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerGroup of Eight university partner in Future Program.
• Edith Cowan UniversitycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartner university in Future Program alongside Group of Eight universities, CSIRO, and industry partners.

Scale indicators8 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Global CCS Institute: International CCS knowledge-sharing organization that, like CO2CRC, convenes industry, government, and academia to advance CCUS deployment globally. Highly comparable mission around enabling commercial CCS and serves overlapping stakeholder audiences.
• Northern Lights (Equinor / Shell / TotalEnergies): Open-source CO2 transport and storage infrastructure in Norway. CO2CRC partners with TotalEnergies and Equinor on this project, and it serves as a European operational analog to CO2CRC's Otway field-scale research.
• IEAGHG (International Energy Agency Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme): International R&D collaboration focused on greenhouse gas control technologies. Overlaps directly with CO2CRC's research mandate on CCS, monitoring, and technology assessment.
• National Carbon Capture Center (US, operated by Southern Company): US-based test center for post-combustion and other capture technologies. Analogous to CO2CRC's Otway facility as a national-scale test bed for emerging CCS/CCUS technologies.
• Petroleum Technology Research Centre (PTRC, Canada): Canadian research consortium operating the Aquistore CO2 storage project and field laboratory near Estevan, Saskatchewan. Highly comparable to CO2CRC in operating a field-scale CO2 storage research facility with industry/academic/government partners.
• Geoscience Australia: Australian Government geoscience agency that is a formal partner in CO2CRC's Future Program and hosts the national core repository used in CO2CRC research. Strong institutional overlap and joint stakeholder base.
• ZERO Centre for CCS Research (Norway): Norwegian centre for CCS research led by SINTEF. Directly comparable specialized CCS research center with industry and government partnerships, focused on safe and efficient large-scale CCS deployment.

Regional players

• SINTEF (Norway): Norwegian contract research organization with a major CCS research program (e.g., NCCS, BIGCCS). Comparable to CO2CRC in conducting applied CCS research at field-relevant scale, though SINTEF benefits from Norway's larger commercial CCS ecosystem.
• TNO (Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research): Dutch applied research organization with significant CCUS programs including offshore storage. Comparable to CO2CRC in mission and research infrastructure, with focus on European CCS deployment.

Emerging players

• British Geological Survey (BGS): UK national geoscience agency. Former employer of CO2CRC founder Peter Cook; conducts complementary CCS research and geological storage studies in the UK.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInau.linkedin.com/company/co2crc
• Xx.com/CCS_Research

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles13 records

Subsidiaries1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about CO2CRC