Research into carbon capture and storage Down Under is getting a A$56.6million (£33.2m) boost from the Australian Government.

The cash is being dished out under the Clean Energy Future package which is also responsible for Australia’s carbon pricing mechanism.

The Cooperative Research Centre for Greenhouse Gas Technologies (CO2CRC) is carrying out major trials of CCS technology at a pilot plant in the state of Victoria. It believes Australia has huge potential for storing carbon in underground reservoirs (areas with potential in blue, pictured).

Today the research group said it has signed an agreement on the funding for a research programme out to 2020.

The total fund is made up of $51.6m already announced by Resources and Energy Minister Gary Gray last month and another $5m for research and demonstration projects announced today.

Dr Richard Aldous, Chief Executive of CO2CRC said: “This support is a vote of confidence in the nation’s determination to meet its emission reduction targets. It keeps the option open for large scale deployment of the technology, underpinned by Australia’s leading CCS research.”

He added cutting the costs of carbon capture is “a major focus” and will be “key” to developing it in future.