In a bold move to combat climate change, the Indian government is set to launch a pioneering mission to advance carbon capture, utilisation, and storage (CCUS) technologies. This initiative is designed to not only promote the adoption of CCUS but also collaborate with industry and academia to develop a bespoke ecosystem tailored to India’s specific requirements.
The forthcoming mission is expected to include a range of supportive measures such as subsidies, viability gap funding (VGF), and tax rebates to incentivise companies to develop technologies and infrastructure unique to India. Key agencies involved in the planning and execution of this mission include NITI Aayog, the Power Ministry, and the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India.
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According to VK Saraswat, a member of NITI Aayog, the government aims to replicate the success achieved in the fields of green hydrogen, electric vehicle batteries, and electrolysers with this new CCUS initiative. He highlighted that the future may see the official launch of the CCUS mission, which will play a critical role in the decarbonisation process. Industrial applications are particularly challenging to electrify, and reducing industrial CO2 emissions is difficult due to the reliance on fossil fuels.
Speaking at an event organised by the American Chamber of Commerce in India (AMCHAM), Saraswat stressed the necessity of a mission-mode approach to CCUS. He outlined that one of the mission's key components would be the establishment of pilot plants with a capacity of 500 tonnes per day to test and refine CCUS technologies.
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Atanu Mukherjee, CEO and President of Dastur Energy, underscored the significance of collaboration between India and the United States in achieving India’s energy transition goals. He pointed out the vital role that CCUS could play in this endeavour.
NITI Aayog’s report from November 2022 reinforces the importance of CCUS, stating that it is currently the only known technology capable of decarbonising sectors that are difficult to electrify and have high CO2 emissions. These include steel, cement, oil and gas, petrochemicals and chemicals, and fertilisers. These sectors are crucial for India’s economic growth and for ensuring energy, materials, and food security.
The proposed CCUS mission represents a significant step forward in India's climate strategy, aiming to position the country at the forefront of global efforts to tackle industrial carbon emissions and support sustainable development.
