As countries race toward net-zero targets, Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) has emerged as a critical solution for decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors such as cement, steel, chemicals, refining, and power. While CCUS deployment is advancing rapidly in parts of the world, India’s journey reflects a very different maturity curve—representing one of the most fertile grounds for CCUS innovation with cost, context, and creativity defining the future.
Indian Scenario: Utilization-Led
Unlike the West, India currently prioritizes CO₂ utilization over storage.
1. Carbon Capture – Industrial & R&D Examples
- Flue-gas CO₂ capture in cement plants
- Membrane-based CO₂ separation
- Pilot solvent-based capture systems tested with Indian cement manufacturers
- Focus on post-combustion amine absorption from plant exhaust
2. Carbon Utilization
The country’s most mature CCUS application is CO₂ capture and utilization in fertilizer and refinery industries, where CO₂ is captured using amine-based systems and directly consumed for urea production.
Key utilization pathways include:
- CO₂ to methanol / chemicals
- Lab and pilot-scale work by IIT Delhi and JNCASR
- Catalytic conversion of captured CO₂ into methanol and formic acid
- CO₂ mineralization in construction materials(supported by DST)
- Captured CO₂ reacted with industrial waste (slag, fly ash) to form carbonates
- Used in green concrete blocks and aggregates
- Carbon-cured concrete
- CO₂ injected during curing to improve strength and permanently lock carbon
- Early pilots with Indian construction material companies
Emerging Landscape
India’s CCUS ecosystem is gradually moving from concept to early deployment through a set of first-of-its-kind storage pilots, sector-specific demonstrations, and national platforms.
India’s first dedicated CO₂ storage well is being developed by CSIR-NGRI in collaboration with IISER Bhopal in the Deccan Traps basalt formations, where injected CO₂ undergoes permanent mineralization—marking a critical milestone for long-term geological storage in the country.
In parallel, large-scale CO₂ sequestration studies in saline aquifers are underway to map deep subsurface formations, supported by geological assessments from ONGC and GSI.
Sectoral Focus Areas
- Cement sector
- CCUS pilots integrated into calcination emissions
- Captured CO₂ reused for mineralization and carbon curing
- Steel sector
- CO₂ capture from blast furnace exhaust gases
- Evaluated alongside hydrogen-based steelmaking pathways by SAIL
- Oil & Gas / Refining
- Indian Oil and ONGC capturing high-purity CO₂ streams from hydrogen production units
- Utilization for blue hydrogen, chemicals, and synthetic fuels
National Test Beds
These pilots are anchored by national platforms such as:
- National Centre of Excellence in CCU at IIT Bombay
- Focus on industry-linked demonstrations and scale-up
- CO₂India Network
- Connects academia and industry across the CCUS value chain
- DST-supported CCUS R&D roadmap projects
- Funding TRL 3–6 technologies spanning capture materials, catalytic utilization, and storage modeling
Collectively, these initiatives highlight a strong strategic emphasis on CCU aligned with the needs of decarbonizing hard-to-abate sectors, positioning CCUS as a critical enabler of India’s Net-Zero 2070 pathway.
India’s Strategic Advantage
The gap created by the lack of legacy CCS infrastructure can be strategically filled by Indian innovators, startups, and research institutions co-designing context-specific CCUS solutions aligned with Indian industry, policy priorities, and affordability constraints.
As funding mechanisms such as ANRF, RDIF, DST–TDB, PSU pilots, and industry–academia partnerships gain momentum, the next phase of CCUS in India will be shaped less by large oil majors and more by translational research ecosystems.
FAQs
Why does India prioritize CO₂ utilization over geological storage?
India focuses on utilization to turn captured CO₂ into valuable industrial products like green urea and construction materials, balancing decarbonization with economic viability.
Which hard-to-abate sectors in India are the primary targets for CCUS?
The cement, steel, chemicals, and refining sectors are priority targets because they produce process emissions that cannot be eliminated through electrification alone.
What role do basalt formations play in India’s carbon storage strategy?
India’s vast Deccan Traps basalt formations are being piloted for storage because they can permanently turn injected CO₂ into solid rock through natural mineralization.
What are the National Test Beds mentioned in the Indian CCUS roadmap?
National Test Beds are industry-linked platforms, like the one at IIT Bombay, that provide real-world environments to validate and scale up CCUS technologies from lab to market.
How does CCUS support India’s Net-Zero 2070 goal?
CCUS acts as a critical technological pillar that enables India to sustain industrial growth while abating billions of tonnes of CO₂ emissions required for its 2070 target.