Context:
India is advancing Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) technologies to help decarbonize industries and achieve its net-zero emissions target by 2070.
Key Highlights:
- Technology Overview
- Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) involves capturing CO₂ emissions from industrial sources and converting them into useful products such as fuels, chemicals, and building materials.
- Climate Commitments
- India is the third-largest CO₂ emitter globally.
- CCU is viewed as a key strategy for reducing emissions from hard-to-abate sectors.
- Government Initiatives
- The Department of Science and Technology (DST) is funding research in CCU.
- The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has drafted a CCUS roadmap for 2030.
- Industrial Adoption
- Companies such as Ambuja Cements, JK Cement, and Organic Recycling Systems Limited (ORSL) are piloting CCU technologies.
Relevant Prelims Points:
- Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU)
- Captures CO₂ emissions and converts them into commercially useful products.
- Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
- Captured carbon is stored underground permanently.
- Net-Zero Emissions
- Achieving balance between greenhouse gases emitted and removed from the atmosphere.
- Hard-to-Abate Sectors
- Industries where emissions reduction is difficult, such as cement, steel, chemicals, and power generation.
Relevant Mains Points:
- Role in Climate Mitigation
- CCU can reduce emissions from industries where renewable energy alone cannot eliminate emissions.
- Supports transition towards a low-carbon and circular economy.
- Economic Opportunities
- Creation of new carbon-based products and industries.
- Potential for green jobs and innovation in climate technologies.
- Global Policy Support
- European Union promotes CCU through its Circular Economy Action Plan.
- The United States provides incentives through tax credits and funding programmes.
- Challenges in India
- High technology and infrastructure costs.
- Lack of CO₂ transport infrastructure.
- Absence of clear regulatory frameworks and carbon pricing mechanisms.
- Way Forward
- Develop industrial clusters with shared CCU infrastructure.
- Introduce carbon markets and economic incentives.
- Encourage public–private partnerships for research and deployment.
- Integrate CCU with green hydrogen and renewable energy initiatives.
UPSC Relevance:
- GS Paper III: Climate change mitigation technologies.
- Prelims: Carbon capture technologies and net-zero commitments.