Prelims: Current events of national and international importance| Environmental issues
Why in news?
Recently Central Government has approved setting up five carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) testbeds in the cement sector.
- Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) testbeds – It aims is to develop and demonstrate net zero decarbonisation pathways using CCU technologies.
Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) is a process where carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions are captured from sources like power plants or industrial facilities and then used in various applications instead of being released into the atmosphere.
- Initiative by - Ministry of Science & Technology under a PPP (Public-Private Partnership) model.
- CCU Applications - Captured CO₂ will be converted into value-added products like:
- Synthetic fuels
- Urea
- Soda ash
- Food-grade CO₂
- Chemicals
- Concrete aggregates
Significance
- Accelerates Net Zero Goals – It supports India’s 2070 carbon neutrality target and Paris Agreement commitments.
- It also supports India's Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC) under Paris Agreement.
- Industrial Decarbonisation – It enables clean tech transition in hard-to-abate sectors like cement, steel, and power.
- Trade Competitiveness – It prepares Indian industry for EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) by lowering carbon footprint.
- Boosts Innovation – It fosters academia-industry R&D collaboration in cutting-edge carbon capture and utilisation technologies.
- Promotes Aatmanirbhar Bharat – It reduces dependence on imported clean-tech solutions; promotes indigenous tech development.
Reference
Times of India| Carbon Capture and Utilisation Testbeds
