Understanding Carbon Capture and Utilisation Technologies for India's Net-Zero Transition
Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) refers to technologies that capture CO2 emissions and convert them into valuable products like fuels and chemicals. Unlike Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), which stores CO2 underground, CCU promotes a circular economy. This technology is essential for 'hard-to-abate' sectors like steel and cement. India, the world's third-largest CO2 emitter, has developed a draft 2030 roadmap for CCUS. However, high costs, energy intensity, and the lack of infrastructure remain significant hurdles. International strategies, such as the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, also support CCU as a pathway to sustainability.
Key Points
- CCU converts captured CO2 into inputs for fuels, chemicals, building materials, or polymers.
- The technology is vital for decarbonizing carbon-intensive sectors that are difficult to transition to renewables.
- India's 2070 net-zero target and circular economy goals are supported by the adoption of CCU.
- Cost competitiveness and energy-intensive conversion processes are the primary risks in scaling CCU.
Exam Facts
- India is the world's third-largest emitter of CO2.
- The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas presented the draft 2030 roadmap for CCUS.
- The EU Bioeconomy Strategy and Circular Economy Action Plan explicitly support CCU technologies.
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