R&D Roadmap for CCUS to Achieve India’s Net-Zero Targets Launched

Syllabus: GS3/Environment

Context

• The first of its kind R&D Roadmap to Enable India’s Net Zero Targets through Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) was launched.

About

• It is prepared by the Department of Science and Technology (DST). 

• The roadmap highlights the need for supportive frameworks—including skilled human capital, regulatory and safety standards, and early-shared infrastructure. 
• It also provides strategic guidance on thematic priorities and funding pathways needed to accelerate CCUS development.

India’s Emissions

• India is the 3rd largest emitter of CO2 in the world after China and the US, with estimated annual emissions of about 2.6 gigatonne per annum (gtpa). 
• The Government of India has committed to reducing CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050 and reaching net zero by 2070. 
• Even though renewable energy growth is strong, power sector emissions are only one third of total emissions; the rest are from “hard-to-abate” industrial and process sectors.
  • India still depends heavily on fossil energy (coal, oil, gas) to meet industrial and baseload energy needs — phasing them out will take time.

• Hence, to meet long-term climate goals (e.g. net-zero by 2070), merely scaling renewables isn’t enough: carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) becomes crucial.

What is CCUS & How can it Help? 

• Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS): Capturing CO₂ from industrial plants/power plants or emission sources; then either using the CO₂ (utilization) or storing it permanently (storage, e.g. geological storage). 
• Utilization Pathways Envisaged: Converting CO₂ into value-added products — such as green urea (fertilizer), building materials (concrete, aggregates), chemicals (methanol, ethanol), polymers/bioplastics, aggregates for construction, etc.
  • Also, CO₂ could be used for enhanced oil recovery (EOR). 
• For Storage: India potentially has very large CO₂ storage capacity — report estimates up to 600 gigatonnes (Gt) of storage capacity across geological formations, giving sufficient headroom for large-scale CCUS deployment. 
• The report advocates a “cluster model”: Creating CCUS hubs/clusters  where multiple industrial plants capture CO₂, and share common transport and storage infrastructure. This can improve economies of scale and cost-effectiveness.

Sectors and Emissions Sources Priority for CCUS in India

• Steel and iron manufacturing.
• Cement production.
• Petrochemicals, oil & gas, fertilisers and chemical industries.
• Fossil-fuel power generation (especially coal-based thermal plants) — to manage baseload power demand while reducing emissions.
• These sectors are emission-intensive and not easily replaced by renewables or electrification alone.

Projection For India’s Future with CCUS

• The report estimates that India could potentially capture up to ~750 million tonnes per annum (mtpa) CO₂ by 2050 via CCUS. 
• It argues that widespread CCUS adoption could also contribute to economic growth, self-reliance (less import dependence), industrial competitiveness, and a circular carbon economy by turning waste CO₂ into useful products. 
• Potential for Job Creation: Large-scale CCUS deployment could generate significant employment (full-time equivalent jobs) over time. 
• CCUS is positioned as a key enabler for India to meet its climate commitments (like installing non-fossil capacity, reducing emission intensity, and eventual net-zero by 2070) without sacrificing industrial growth or baseload power needs. 

Key policy Recommendations 

• Suggests public-private partnerships, financing mechanisms (possibly via clean-energy cess, bonds, government support), and frameworks to manage large infrastructure (transport pipelines for CO₂, storage sites, monitoring). 
• Promotes the idea of CCUS clusters/hubs region-wise — leveraging shared infrastructure (capture, transport, storage) to reduce costs and improve feasibility. 
• Encourages value-added utilisation of captured CO₂ (not just storage) to create economic value e.g. building materials, chemicals, fertilizers, etc. This helps integrate CCUS into a circular carbon economy. 

Conclusion

• The CCUS Report smartly acknowledges India’s dual challenge: need for rapid industrial & economic growth, and imperative to decarbonize. 
• CCUS offers a pragmatic, transitional tool  helping decarbonize “hard” sectors and coal-based power over the medium-to-long term, while renewable deployment and clean alternatives scale up.
• If India pushes CCUS along with supportive policy, financing, and value-added CO₂ utilization, it could emerge as a major strategy for a circular carbon economy.

Source: PIB