The clean energy transition is the need of the hour and carbon capture utilisation and storage (CCUS) is perceived to be a way to reduce the emission of carbon in the atmosphere. Experts including a member of Niti Ayoga, highlighted the significance of CCUS can play in the process of India’s energy transition at a panel discussion.
Notably, CCUS is a set of technological processes aimed at mitigating carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions generated from large-scale point sources like power plants, industrial facilities, and refineries. The primary goal of CCUS is to prevent CO2 from being released into the atmosphere. It is considered a crucial strategy for the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions from industries.
Vijay Kumar Saraswat, Member, Niti Aayog said, "Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) technologies will play a critical role in helping India achieve its ambitious net zero emissions target by 2070.”
While speaking at an event, experts emphasised the potential of CCUS in reducing CO2 emissions from the industrial and energy sectors in India. According to estimates by the International Energy Agency, total CO2 captured from various industrial sectors needs to reach over 5 Gtpa by 2050 and double to over 10 Gtpa by 2070 to achieve the long-term net zero goal. This would require significant investments in CCUS technologies over the next few decades.
Talking about how the global scenario is emerging regarding CCUS, Saraswat said that 361 million tons per annum of CO2 capture capacity are under development today globally. About 391 projects are in the pipeline in July 2023 and 36 new CCUS facilities were announced recently, he added.
CCD carbon, clean coal technologies, CO2, CCUS, methanol, ethanol and ammonia are the alternate fuels to support the renewable energy programs, nuclear power, and small modular reactors became the base load carriers. However, the net cost of CCUS is still high. This is a global concern. Ashish Modi, President, Honeywell said, “I think in the Indian context, the question is how do you bring the cost structure down.”
To address the concern, NET Power’s 50 MW clean energy plant (commissioned in 2018) is a first-of-its-kind natural gas-fired power plant employing Allam cycle technology, which uses CO2 as a working fluid in an oxyfuel supercritical CO2 power cycle, which could significantly reduce capture costs and lead the way. Experts in discussion were also given reducing the cost. “Present cost of capture methods which shares 75 per cent of CCUS net cost,” stated Saraswat.
Experts hinted that India may come with a mission on CCUS just like the hydrogen mission. It is not declared yet because the preparation is still going on. One other stakeholder unofficially said that currently, India has a 600 billion tonne storage capacity and the carbon we generate is barely 200 or fewer billion tonnes.
In India, Tata Steel has set up a plant for 5 tons per 100 CO2 capture from blast furnace assets which has been commissioned in J&K. It is using technology which is the amine-based absorption method. JSW is setting up a plant in 100 tons per day CO2 capture from gas. DRI plant commissioning at Salao and Olmstead, using potassium carbonate as the technology. NTPC has set up a plant in Vindhyachal which produces about 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide and 10 tons per day of methanol.
