The Clean Coal Administration Act was passed in June 2008 and established the NSW Clean Coal Council and the $100 million Clean Coal Fund.

Clean Coal Council

The Council brings together representatives of industry (coal and electricity generators), research institutes and the NSW Government to consider how best to support low emissions coal technologies (clean coal technologies) research and development in NSW.

A significant function of the NSW Clean Coal Council is to provide advice and make recommendations to the Government concerning the funding of projects under the NSW Clean Coal Fund that encourage the development of low emissions coal technologies. Members of the Council were appointed by Government on 22 September 2008 and the inaugural meeting of the Clean Coal Council was held on 11 December 2008. Council appointed a Technical Working Group to assist with the assessment of project funding applications.

Functions of the Clean Coal Council

The Functions of the Clean Coal Council are to:

• provide advice and make recommendations to the Government concerning the funding of projects and policies that encourage the development of clean coal technologies;
• advise the Government on policies to encourage the development and implementation of clean coal technologies;
• make recommendations to the Government concerning opportunities for involvement by private and public sector entities in interstate, national and international research projects involving clean coal technologies;
• advise the Government on such other matters concerning clean coal technologies as the Government may refer to the Council.

Clean Coal Fund

The NSW Government has committed $100 million over four years to the Clean Coal Fund.  The NSW Clean Coal Council gives advice to the Minister of Mineral Resources in administrating this fund. 

Purposes of the Clean Coal Fund

The purposes of the Fund are to provide funding:

• for research into, and development of, clean coal technologies;
• to demonstrate clean coal technologies;
• to increase public awareness and acceptance of the importance of reducing greenhouse gas emissions through the use of clean coal technologies;
• for the commercialisation of clean coal technologies.