Syllabus: GS3/ Environment
Context
- Ocean-based carbon capture can help India reach net-zero by 2070, turning its seas into engines of carbon removal and blue growth.
What is Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS)?
- The International Energy Agency (IEA) defines CCUS as a group of technologies for capturing of CO2 from large and stationary CO2 emitting sources, such as fossil fuel based power plants and other industries.
- CCUS also involves the transport of the captured CO2 to sites, either for utilization in different applications or injection into geological formations or depleted oil & gas fields for permanent storage and trapping of the CO2.
| India’s Emission Reductions Commitments – India has launched the LiFE mission (Lifestyle for Environment) and updated its NDCs (Nationally Determined Contributions) under the Paris Agreement. – Under its updated NDC 2022, India pledges: 1. 45% reduction in emissions intensity (amount of CO₂ per unit of GDP) by 2030, compared to 2005 levels. 2. 50% of installed electricity capacity will come from non-fossil fuel sources by 2030. 3. Creating a carbon sink of 2.5 to 3 billion tonnes of CO₂ equivalent (GtCO₂e) by increasing forests and tree cover. |
Ocean-based Negative Emission Techniques
- Ocean Alkalinity Enhancement (OAE): Increases seawater’s natural ability to absorb CO₂ through addition of alkaline minerals like lime or olivine. It provides stable carbon storage for over 100,000 years.
- Biological Carbon Capture: It involves phytoplankton, seaweed, and microalgae that absorb CO₂ through photosynthesis.
- Ocean fertilisation promotes the growth of phytoplankton by adding required micronutrients, such as phosphorus, iron, or nitrogen, to specific macronutrient-rich regions of the ocean, facilitating long-term deep-ocean carbon storage.
- Marine protected areas, including coral reefs and mangroves (8.3 percent of the ocean), are vital for ocean health.
- Mangroves store up to 1,000 tonnes of carbon per hectare.
India’s Potential for Ocean-Based CCUS
- India, with 2.6 gigatonnes of annual CO₂ emissions, stands as the world’s third-largest emitter after the US and China.
- India’s 11,098.8 km coastline and 2 million sq. km Exclusive Economic Zone (EEZ) offer vast opportunities for ocean-based carbon sequestration.
- Seaweed farming over 20% of India’s ocean area could remove 0.6–1 gigatonne of CO₂ annually.
- OAE, when combined with aquaculture, can provide highly durable and stable carbon storage while enhancing marine productivity.
- Captured carbon can be repurposed for biofuels, pharmaceuticals, green hydrogen, fertilizers, biopolymers, and construction materials, promoting circular carbon economies and blue growth.
What are the Challenges?
- Ecological Concerns: Altering ocean chemistry or nutrient balance may affect marine biodiversity.
- Regulatory Gaps: India lacks comprehensive marine carbon governance frameworks.
- High Capital Costs: Early-stage ocean CCUS projects require long-term funding and risk mitigation.
Way Ahead
- Policy Integration: Embed ocean-based CCUS in India’s National Carbon Capture Policy and Blue Economy Mission.
- Research and Development: Establish pilot projects on ocean alkalinity enhancement and biological carbon farming under the Deep Ocean Mission.
- Private Sector Mobilisation: Provide fiscal incentives and carbon credits for blue carbon restoration and marine CDR startups.
- International Collaboration: Partner with global CCUS hubs in Japan, Norway, and the EU for technology transfer and knowledge exchange.
Source: ORF
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