Print-friendly version

About the Colliecrete Project

Collie is Western Australia’s historical centre of electricity generation.

For decades, underground and open cut coal mines have provided the fuel to be burnt in WA’s power stations to provide electricity to the South West Interconnected System (SWIS) – the main power grid for the State.

A by-product of the combustion of coal is flyash. There are very large quantities of flyash stored in Collie as a result of decades of coal production.

This very fine material can be used as an active ingredient in geopolymer cement, which is a much lower-emission alternative to Ordinary Portland Cement (OPC).

Colliecrete is a State Government-funded project involving a multi-pronged approach:

  • Practical scientific research at Murdoch University into producing alkali-activated geopolymer cements and concretes from Collie flyash and other industrial waste resources
  • Supply chain analysis of all materials with pozzolanic properties available in the wider Collie region
  • Demonstration projects and proof of concept for potential market applications to encourage strong industry, investor and community engagement
  • Financial feasibility study with development of an industry investment-focussed Information Memorandum

The initiative hopes to activate new industries and create a jobs pipeline for the region.

Colliecrete_map-bright

Collie is a town in transition

A slow reduction in Western Australia’s use of coal is being experienced already, and will continue in the coming years as the use of renewable energy technologies like solar photovoltaics, wind turbines, and battery energy storage surges to record highs. 

The staged closure of Collie’s coal fired power stations will cause job losses and have broader economic impacts, so new industries are sought for Collie’s future.

Collie’s Just Transition Working Group is a government, industry and local community commitment to securing a long term, sustainable future for Collie’s workforce and its community.

The Colliecrete project is one of a number of state-government supported initiatives in Collie’s Just Transition work.