कार्बन कैप्चर और उपयोग प्रौद्योगिकियाँ: उत्सर्जन को कम करना और बढ़ाना

The recent push for Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) in India highlights the importance of innovative approaches to tackle climate change. To fully understand this development, several key concepts need to be examined.

First, Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) refers to a set of technologies designed to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial sources or directly from the atmosphere. Instead of releasing CO2 into the atmosphere, CCUS aims to transform it into commercially valuable products or store it permanently underground. The Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, defines CCUS as a program that aims to reduce carbon emissions by either storing or reusing captured carbon dioxide. This is directly relevant to the ₹20,000 crore allocation in the Union Budget 2026, which seeks to scale up these technologies over the next five years.

Second, the concept of Net-Zero Emissions is central to the discussion around CCUS. Net-zero means that the total amount of greenhouse gas emissions is reduced to the extent that it can be neutralized by absorption, either naturally or through artificial removal measures, resulting in zero total emissions. NITI Aayog's 2022 report emphasizes that CCUS has a critical role to play for India to halve CO2 emissions by 2050 and accomplish net-zero by 2070. This target drives the need for technologies like CCUS to mitigate emissions from hard-to-abate sectors.

Third, the idea of a Circular Economy is closely linked to CCU. Unlike Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), which stores CO₂ underground permanently, CCU reuses the captured carbon within the economy, turning emissions into productive inputs instead of waste. The EU's Bioeconomy Strategy and Circular Economy Action Plan promote CCU as a tool to convert CO₂ into fuels, chemicals, and materials, supporting sustainability and circularity goals. In India, this is reflected in projects like those by Ambuja Cements, JK Cement and Organic Recycling Systems Limited (ORSL) which are piloting technologies to convert captured CO₂ into fuels, materials, and chemicals.

For UPSC aspirants, understanding these concepts is crucial for both prelims and mains. Questions may arise on the different types of CCUS technologies, their applications, and their role in achieving India's climate targets. Furthermore, the economic and environmental implications of CCUS, as well as the challenges in scaling up these technologies, are important areas to focus on.