What are carbon capture and utilisation technologies?

UPSC Prelims + Mains Study Note

1. At a Glance

• Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) refers to technologies that capture CO₂ from industrial point sources or directly from the atmosphere and convert it into useful products — fuels, chemicals, building materials, polymers — rather than storing it underground. [1][3]
• Distinct from Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS): CCS sequesters CO₂ permanently underground; CCU recirculates captured carbon into the economy. [5]
• Relevant to GS-III (Environment, Science & Technology) and India's stated net-zero target of 2070. [5]
• Critical for hard-to-abate sectors (cement, steel, chemicals, power) that cannot be fully decarbonised through renewable energy alone. [5][3]

2. Why in the News

• December 2, 2025: DST launched India's first R&D Roadmap for CCUS to enable net-zero targets; released by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. [1][2]
• The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas separately released a draft 2030 roadmap for CCUS, identifying specific projects for deployment. [5]
• India launched its first cluster of CCU testbeds in academia-industry collaboration focused on the cement sector under a Public Private Partnership (PPP) model. [4]
• The article in The Hindu (26 February 2026, International Edition, Page 10) explicitly addressed CCU, the EU Bioeconomy Strategy, and India's scale-up potential. [5]

3. Background & Evolution

• Origin: CCU emerged as a concept alongside CCS in the early 2000s; gained distinct identity as circular economy frameworks prioritised resource recovery over disposal.
• UNFCCC recognition: CCUS classified as an emissions reduction technology applicable across the energy system; highlighted in UNFCCC Technology Mechanism discussions. [3]
• IEA framing (Net Zero by 2050 report): CCUS identified as one of four critical pillars of net-zero transition alongside electrification, hydrogen, and bioenergy. [6]
• India's trajectory:
• 2022: DST announced two National Centres of Excellence (NCoE-CCU) — at IIT Bombay and JNCASR, Bengaluru — as India's first dedicated CCU research infrastructure. [2][7]
• 2024–25: DST approved five CCU testbeds for cement industry under PPP mode. [4]
• December 2025: Full national R&D Roadmap launched. [1]

4. Core Static Facts

5. Multi-Dimensional Analysis

Environmental

• CCU offers carbon circularity — captured CO₂ re-enters the economy rather than adding to atmospheric stock, supporting a low-carbon circular economy. [3]
• Hard-to-abate sectors (cement, steel) account for a disproportionate share of industrial emissions globally; CCU is among very few viable decarbonisation pathways for these. [5][3]
• When coupled with bioenergy (BECCS) or DAC, CCU can deliver carbon-negative outcomes, enabling "negative emissions." [3]
• Risk: if the CO₂ embedded in products is eventually re-released (e.g., fuel combustion), net climate benefit depends on lifecycle accounting. [3]

Economic

• CCU converts a waste stream (CO₂) into feedstock, creating new value chains: synthetic fuels, urea, methanol, concrete aggregates, polymers. [5]
• The cement industry testbed programme directly links CCU to India's massive infrastructure-driven cement demand — one of the world's largest cement markets. [4]
• IEA notes CCUS receives only ~1/3 of public R&D funding compared to established low-carbon technologies, indicating significant investment gap. [6]
• Commercialisation of CCU could reduce India's dependence on fossil-fuel-derived chemical feedstocks. [5]

Scientific / Technological

• Capture technologies: Post-combustion (amine scrubbing), pre-combustion, oxy-fuel combustion, and DAC. [3][6]
• Utilisation pathways: Mineralisation (building materials), electrochemical reduction (fuels/chemicals), biological conversion (algae, fermentation), catalytic hydrogenation. [3]
• IIT Bombay NCoE: Focused on industry-ready S&T milestones. JNCASR NCoE: Material development, scaled-up pilot processes for hydrocarbons and olefins. [2][7]
• India's newly developed cost-effective carbon capture technology (DST-supported) represents a significant advancement toward net-zero targets. [8]

Geopolitical / Strategic

• The EU Bioeconomy Strategy and Circular Economy Action Plan explicitly promotes CCU as part of Europe's industrial transformation — creating trade and technology partnership opportunities for India. [5]
• Countries deploying CCU at scale may gain first-mover advantage in carbon-neutral product markets; Indian exports (cement, steel) increasingly face EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) pressure.
• CCU aligns with India's NDC commitments under the Paris Agreement and supports the LiFE (Lifestyle for Environment) mission's industrial dimension.

Administrative

• Coordination challenge: CCU sits across DST (R&D), Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas (deployment roadmap), and MoEFCC (regulatory/environmental clearance).
• PPP testbed model (premier research labs + industry) is the chosen vehicle; scaling beyond pilot to commercial requires clearer regulatory and carbon pricing frameworks.
• No standalone CCU legislation exists in India yet; regulatory framework relies on existing environment and petroleum laws.

6. Recent Developments (Last 12–18 Months)

• December 2, 2025: DST launched India's first national R&D Roadmap for CCUS for net-zero targets; released by the Principal Scientific Adviser. [1][2]
• 2024–25: DST approved 5 CCU testbeds for the cement sector in PPP mode — India's first cluster of CCU testbeds in academia-industry collaboration. [4]
• 2025–26: DST-supported researchers developed a resilient, cost-effective carbon capture technology described as a "significant advancement" toward India's net-zero targets. [8]
• Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas released a draft 2030 CCUS roadmap identifying specific projects eligible for carbon utilisation and storage. [5]
• February 26, 2026: The Hindu (International Edition) featured CCU in context of India's scale-up needs and the EU Bioeconomy/Circular Economy linkages. [5]

7. Prelims Hooks

1. CCU stands for Carbon Capture and Utilisation; the broader term CCUS adds underground Storage. [3]
2. In CCU, captured CO₂ is converted into useful products (fuels, chemicals, building materials); in CCS, CO₂ is permanently stored underground. [5]
3. India's national R&D Roadmap for CCUS was launched on December 2, 2025 by DST. [1]
4. The CCUS roadmap was released by Prof. Ajay Kumar Sood, the Principal Scientific Adviser to the Government of India. [1]
5. India has two National Centres of Excellence for CCU: one at IIT Bombay and one at JNCASR, Bengaluru; both supported by DST. [2][7]
6. India's first cluster of CCU testbeds targets the cement industry (not power or steel) in the first phase. [4]
7. Five CCU testbeds were approved in the first cluster under a PPP (Public Private Partnership) model. [4]
8. India is the 3rd largest emitter of CO₂ globally; primary drivers: power generation, cement, steel, chemicals. [5]
9. India's net-zero target year is 2070 (not 2050 like the EU or USA). [5]
10. Direct Air Capture (DAC) is a CCU sub-technology that captures CO₂ directly from the atmosphere, not from industrial point sources. [3]
11. CCUS receives only ~1/3 of the public R&D funding that established low-carbon technologies (solar, wind, efficiency) receive globally, per IEA. [6]
12. The Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas (not DST alone) also has a separate draft 2030 CCUS roadmap. [5]
13. JNCASR, Bengaluru NCoE focuses on scaling up processes to pilot stage to produce hydrocarbons, olefins, and value-added chemicals. [7]
14. The EU Carbon Border Adjustment Mechanism (CBAM) creates external pressure on Indian hard-to-abate sectors to adopt CCU/CCUS technologies.

8. Mains Relevance

Plausible Mains Question Stems:

1. "Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) is seen as a transformative technology for India's hard-to-abate industrial sectors. Examine its potential, current status in India, and the challenges to its commercialisation." (250 words, GS-III)

2. "Critically analyse how Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS) technologies can contribute to India achieving its net-zero target of 2070, with reference to sector-specific applications and regulatory gaps." (250 words, GS-III)

3. "The distinction between Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) and Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) has significant implications for industrial policy and climate strategy. Discuss." (150 words, GS-III)

9. Related Topics to Study Next

10. Common Errors / Trap Areas

1. CCU ≠ CCS: Aspirants frequently conflate the two. Remember: CCU = reuse; CCS = store underground. The article explicitly distinguishes them. [5]
2. Nodal ministry trap: CCU R&D is under DST; but the 2030 deployment roadmap is under the Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas. Examiners can test either.
3. NCoE locations: IIT Bombay and JNCASR Bengaluru — not IIT Delhi or IISc. JNCASR is a standalone national institute (under DST), not part of IISc Bengaluru.
4. India's net-zero year is 2070, not 2050 (EU/UK) or 2060 (China). A common substitution error in MCQs.
5. First testbed sector was Cement (not Power or Steel) — the cement industry was specifically chosen for the first PPP cluster; power and steel are identified but not the first phase.