Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU)

Source: TOI

Context: The Government of India has approved the establishment of five Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) testbeds to drive net zero industrial pathways in hard-to-abate sectors like cement, under a public-private partnership model.

About Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU):

• What is CCU?

• CCU refers to technologies that capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) from industrial emissions and utilize it either directly or after converting it into value-added products. It is a sub-set of Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS).

• CCU refers to technologies that capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) from industrial emissions and utilize it either directly or after converting it into value-added products.

• It is a sub-set of Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS).

• How It Works? CCU comprises three key stages:

• CCU comprises three key stages:

• Capture – CO₂ is separated from emission sources (e.g., flue gas or air). Transport – The captured CO₂ is compressed and transported via pipeline, road, or ship. Utilisation – CO₂ is converted into products like synthetic fuels, urea, concrete aggregates, chemicals, or food-grade CO₂.

• Capture – CO₂ is separated from emission sources (e.g., flue gas or air).

• Transport – The captured CO₂ is compressed and transported via pipeline, road, or ship.

• Utilisation – CO₂ is converted into products like synthetic fuels, urea, concrete aggregates, chemicals, or food-grade CO₂.

• Types of Carbon Capture:

• Post-combustion: Captures CO₂ after fuel is burned (retrofit-friendly). Pre-combustion: Captures CO₂ before combustion by gasifying fuel (better for new plants). Oxy-fuel combustion: Uses pure oxygen to burn fuel, simplifying CO₂ capture. Direct Air Capture (DAC): Extracts CO₂ from ambient air using sorbents or solvents (high cost, low concentration).

• Post-combustion: Captures CO₂ after fuel is burned (retrofit-friendly).

• Pre-combustion: Captures CO₂ before combustion by gasifying fuel (better for new plants).

• Oxy-fuel combustion: Uses pure oxygen to burn fuel, simplifying CO₂ capture.

• Direct Air Capture (DAC): Extracts CO₂ from ambient air using sorbents or solvents (high cost, low concentration).

• Features of Indian CCU Testbeds:

• Five pilot testbeds to be set up in partnership with top academic and industrial institutions: NCCBM + JK Cement (Haryana) IIT Kanpur + JSW Cement IIT Bombay + Dalmia Cement CSIR-IIP + IIT Tirupati + IISc + JSW Cement IIT Madras + BITS Pilani Goa + Ultratech Cement Focus: Translational R&D, CO₂ catalysis, vacuum-based gas separation, and industrial integration. Funding: Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Strategic intent: Combat EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and future-proof Indian industry.

• NCCBM + JK Cement (Haryana)

• IIT Kanpur + JSW Cement

• IIT Bombay + Dalmia Cement

• CSIR-IIP + IIT Tirupati + IISc + JSW Cement

• IIT Madras + BITS Pilani Goa + Ultratech Cement

• Focus: Translational R&D, CO₂ catalysis, vacuum-based gas separation, and industrial integration.

• Funding: Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

• Strategic intent: Combat EU’s Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) and future-proof Indian industry.

• Limitations of CCU:

• Limited Market Size: CO₂-based product markets are still small. Energy Intensity: High energy required, especially in DAC. Variable Climate Benefit: Impact depends on source of CO₂, end-product life cycle, and process carbon intensity. Not a Substitute for Mitigation: Best used to complement emissions reduction, not replace it.

• Limited Market Size: CO₂-based product markets are still small.

• Energy Intensity: High energy required, especially in DAC.

• Variable Climate Benefit: Impact depends on source of CO₂, end-product life cycle, and process carbon intensity.

• Not a Substitute for Mitigation: Best used to complement emissions reduction, not replace it.