Carbon Capture and Utilisation Testbeds

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