Carbon Capture and Utilisation: A Key to India's Emission Goals
Key Points
India's journey towards achieving net-zero emissions by 2070 necessitates the adoption of Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) technologies. This is crucial for UPSC aspirants, particularly for General Studies Paper 3, which focuses on environment and technology. Last Updated: 26-02-2026
Key Facts About Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU)
- CCU refers to technologies that capture CO₂ emissions from industrial sources or directly from the air and convert them into useful products.
- India is the world's third-largest CO₂ emitter, necessitating CCU for decarbonizing "hard-to-abate" industrial processes.
- The Union Budget 2026-27 allocated Rs 20,000 crore for CCUS technology development over the next five years.
- Ambuja Cements and IIT Bombay are collaborating on an Indo-Swedish pilot to convert captured CO₂ into fuels and materials.
- JK Cement is testing CCU for applications like lightweight concrete blocks and olefins.
- Organic Recycling Systems Limited is leading India’s first pilot-scale Bio-CCU platform.
- The EU Bioeconomy Strategy supports CCU for converting CO₂ into feedstocks.
India's Strategic Emission Goals
CCU is pivotal for India's strategic goals of reducing emissions and achieving sustainability. As the third-largest CO₂ emitter, India aims to leverage CCU technologies to meet its international commitments and improve its global environmental rankings. The adoption of CCU aligns with India's economic growth and sustainable development goals, positioning the country as a leader in climate action.
UPSC Relevance
CCU is relevant for General Studies Paper 3, focusing on environment and technology. In the prelims, questions could cover the definition and applications of CCU. For mains, analytical themes could explore India's strategies for emission reduction and the role of technology in sustainable development. This topic is also pertinent for essay papers discussing climate change and technological innovations.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
- What is CCU? CCU captures CO₂ from industrial sources or air and converts it into useful products like fuels, chemicals, and building materials, supporting a circular carbon economy.
- What is the difference between CCU and CCS? CCS stores CO₂ underground permanently, whereas CCU reuses captured CO₂ for economic applications.
- Why does India need CCU? As the third-largest CO₂ emitter, India requires CCU to decarbonize hard-to-abate sectors like cement and steel that cannot rely solely on renewable energy.
Detailed Coverage
- CCU captures CO₂ from industrial sources and converts it into useful products.
- India is the 3rd-largest CO₂ emitter globally.
- CCU is essential for decarbonizing hard-to-abate industrial processes.
- The Union Budget 2026-27 allocates Rs 20,000 crore for CCUS technologies.
- Ambuja Cements collaborates with IIT Bombay on a CCU pilot project.
- JK Cement is testing CCU for lightweight concrete blocks.
- ORSL leads India's first pilot-scale Bio-CCU platform.
- The EU supports CCU through its Bioeconomy Strategy.
- Belgium trials technology to convert CO₂ into carbon monoxide.
- The U.S. uses tax credits to scale CCUs.
- The UAE's Al Reyadah project leverages CCU with green hydrogen.
- CCU faces cost competitiveness challenges.
- Infrastructure readiness is uneven across regions.
- Policy and standards gaps create investor uncertainty.
- CCU technologies include post-combustion and direct air capture.
- CO₂ can be used directly or converted into chemicals and fuels.
- India aims for net-zero emissions by 2070 through CCU adoption.