Capturing Carbon, Creating Change: India’s Sustainable Future

Context

• India has committed to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, aligning with its pledge under the Paris Climate Agreement.

• To achieve this, India is adopting multiple technological and policy measures, including a focus on Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS).

• CCUS is particularly important for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors such as thermal power, steel, cement, and oil refining.

• The technology gained global attention during the COP28 Climate Summit in Dubai (2023), where it was seen as essential for deep decarbonization strategies.

What is CCUS (Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage)?

• CCUS refers to a suite of technologies aimed at capturing carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from major sources before they enter the atmosphere.

• Once captured, CO₂ is either:

  • Stored in geological formations such as saline aquifers or depleted oil and gas fields, or

  • Utilized in the production of chemicals, fuels, or building materials.

• It is seen as a transitional solution to support countries like India in meeting climate goals while continuing to use fossil-based infrastructure.

Three Key Stages of CCUS

1. Capture Stage

• The process involves separating CO₂ from industrial gas streams.

• Technologies used:

  • Chemical solvent-based methods – suitable for gas streams with low CO₂ concentrations.

  • Physical solvent-based methods – used when CO₂ concentrations are high.

  • Adsorption techniques – applied to medium concentration streams like Steam Methane Reforming (SMR).

2. Utilization Stage

• Captured CO₂ is converted into value-added products, such as:

  • Green urea

  • Dry ice

  • Carbonated beverages

  • Building materials

  • Industrial chemicals

3. Storage Stage

• Long-term storage is done in secure geological locations:

  • Saline aquifers

  • Depleted oil and gas fields

  • Deep unmineable coal seams

• These formations act as permanent CO₂ sinks to prevent atmospheric release.

Potential Benefits of CCUS for India

• Direct emission reduction – CCUS captures CO₂ before it enters the atmosphere.

• Decarbonization of industrial sectors – Useful for high-emission sectors such as:

  • Coal-based power

  • Steel

  • Cement

  • Oil refineries

• Support for clean fuel production – Captured CO₂ can be used to synthesize:

  • Green hydrogen

  • Ammonia

  • Synthetic methane

• Climate change mitigation – Reduces overall greenhouse gas load in the atmosphere.

• Job creation – Opportunities in engineering, construction, transport, and storage sectors.

• Complement to renewable energy – Provides a base-load alternative where solar and wind are not viable.

Challenges in Implementing CCUS in India

• High capital cost – Infrastructure and technology deployment require large upfront investments.

• Technology readiness – Innovations like Direct Air Capture (DAC) are still in early stages.

• Lack of investment – The sector is yet to gain momentum from private and institutional investors.

• Infrastructure constraints –

  • Need for specialized pipelines to transport CO₂.

  • Existing oil/gas pipelines are unsuitable due to corrosion risks.

• Storage challenges –

  • Limited availability of safe and suitable geological sites.

  • Many storage sites are geographically distant from emission sources.

• Policy and regulatory gaps – No unified national regulation exists to oversee CO₂ capture, transport, utilization, and storage.

What Lies Ahead: India's Approach

• India is preparing to launch a National CCUS Mission, focused on:

  • Power

  • Steel

  • Cement industries

• Policy support required includes:

  • Viability Gap Funding (VGF)

  • Production Linked Incentives (PLI)

  • Tax credits for industries and innovators

• Need for a robust regulatory framework governing:

  • Site selection

  • Safety standards

  • Monitoring and liability

• Importance of R&D investment to:

  • Improve CO₂ capture efficiency

  • Lower costs

  • Develop new utilization technologies

• Public-private partnerships will be key to financing and scaling up projects.