The pilot plant is part of the Mineral Carbonation International Research Project to be funded over four years by $3.04million contributions from the NSW Government's Coal Innovation NSW Fund, the Australian Government and Orica.
"The Research Project is highly innovative and places NSW as a world leader in the development of mineral carbonation," Hartcher said.
"The pilot plant will trial new technology that permanently stores captured carbon emissions in a solid form, preventing carbon from accumulating in the atmosphere and offering an alternative to storing it underground.
"While this technology is about reducing carbon emissions, the solid products created have the potential to be used in various applications, including building materials for the construction industry."
A multi-disciplinary team of researchers and engineers will undertake the Research Project at the pilot plant to be built at the University of Newcastle's Institute for Energy and Resources.
Hartcher said the pilot plant is the fourth project granted to the University from the Coal Innovation NSW Fund.
"The NSW Government is pleased to be continuing its support of low emission coal technologies through the Fund – such technologies are vital to improving the energy efficiency and environmental performance of burning coal to produce electricity.
"I commend the University for their outstanding research so far and look forward to following the progress of the pilot plant."
