Experts from various domains in research and academia underscored the critical need for joint investments from the government and industry in Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS). They emphasized the vital role of leading experts in unifying efforts towards achieving India’s net zero targets through effective CCUS strategies.
During the Consultative Brainstorming Session on DST’s Roadmap towards India’s net zero targets through CCUS, Prof. Abay Karandikar, the Secretary of DST, highlighted the necessity for investment and funding to enable the deployment of cost-effective technologies at scale. He stressed the importance of collaboration among the country’s leading experts to work collectively in this direction.
Prof. Karandikar emphasized the significance of mapping the current technology status to establish a robust Research and Development (R&D) ecosystem. He proposed joint funding initiatives from the industry to commercialize certain technologies. The DST Secretary suggested the formulation of focused incubation programs as part of a concrete action plan.
Underlining DST’s commitment, Prof. Karandikar expressed the intention to develop a program that would generate a substantial impact at the national level within the upcoming years.
The session centered on exploring opportunities and addressing challenges associated with CCUS, particularly focusing on the government’s role in expediting the advancement and application of CCUS technologies.
Dr. Akhilesh Gupta, Senior Advisor DST and Secretary SERB, emphasized the critical role of CCUS in the face of the rising global temperatures outlined in recent IPCC reports. He highlighted the urgency to invest in well-documented pilot projects and emphasized the need for extensive studies on their viability, coupled with substantial funding to propel the development of potential winning technologies.
Professor Rangan Banerjee, Director of IIT Delhi, echoed the sentiment, emphasizing the importance of global collaborative efforts in technology development to ensure success in CCUS endeavors.
Dr. Anita Gupta, Head C3E Division of DST, provided insights into DST’s ongoing CCUS initiatives.
The Consultative Brainstorming Meeting witnessed active participation from senior CCUS experts across various sectors, including thermal, oil, steel, and cement, representing organizations such as NTPC, BHEL, ONGC, Reliance, Tata Steel, Aditya Birla Cement, and UltraTech.
The meeting aimed to align with Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s vision of a sustainable future as highlighted at COP-26 in Glasgow, where he emphasized “India’s Panchamrit Amrit tattva.” The Indian government aims to achieve a carbon-neutral economy by 2070. In this context, CCUS has emerged as a pivotal tool in both national and global contexts.
DST has been steadfast in its commitment to building a robust CCUS ecosystem, contributing significantly to the development of the CCUS value chain and establishing a roadmap for RD&D (Research, Development, and Demonstration) directions. The Consultative Brainstorming Meeting served as a platform to strengthen the CCUS value chain, ensuring technology’s real-field and market connectivity through collaborations among various stakeholders in industry, academia, research groups, and policymakers.