What are carbon capture and utilisation technologies?, Pg10

Key Highlights:

• Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) involves capturing CO₂ emissions and converting them into valuable products like fuels and building materials.
• India, the world's third-largest CO₂ emitter, sees CCU as a way to decarbonize industries and achieve its net-zero target by 2070.
• The Department of Science and Technology is funding CCU research, and the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas has drafted a 2030 roadmap for CCUS.
• Companies like Ambuja Cements, JK Cement, and Organic Recycling Systems Limited (ORSL) are piloting CCU projects in India.

Detailed Insights:

• CCU differs from Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) because it utilizes captured carbon instead of permanently storing it underground.
• CCU can help reduce emissions from "hard-to-abate" sectors like power generation, cement, steel, and chemicals, fostering a circular, low-carbon economy.
• The EU Bioeconomy Strategy and Circular Economy Action Plan support CCU, while the U.S. uses tax credits and funding to scale CCU technologies.
• Key challenges for scaling CCU in India include cost competitiveness, infrastructure readiness, and the absence of clear standards and market signals.
• Widespread implementation of CCU technologies requires co-located industrial clusters and reliable CO₂ transport infrastructure.

Key Concepts Involved:

• Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU): Technologies that capture CO₂ emissions and convert them into useful products.
• Net-Zero Target: Achieving an overall balance between emissions produced and emissions taken out of the atmosphere.
• Circular Economy: An economic system aimed at minimizing waste and making the most of resources.

Carbon Capture and Utilisation