November 17 – GS3/Environment and Ecology: 2025 | UPSC Daily Answer Writing Practice PDF Download

Q: Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) is often described as a "bridge technology" in the global transition to net-zero. Examine its potential and challenges in the Indian context. (250 words)

Introduction

Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) refers to a suite of technologies that trap carbon dioxide from large emission sources or directly from the air, As the world transitions towards net zero, and with India’s own target set for 2070, CCUS is seen as a vital pillar of a diversified decarbonisation strategy, especially for sectors where emissions are hard to eliminate.

CCUS as a "Bridge Technology"

• Industries such as cement, steel, refining, chemicals, fertilisers and certain process industriesemit concentrated CO₂ streams that are difficult to eliminate through electrification alone. 
• India is the world's second-largest producer of steel and cement. CCUS allows deep cuts in these sectors while alternative processes scale up.

Power-sector flexibility and transitions: 

• Coal dominates India's energy mix, and energy security is paramount.
• Where unabated fossil generation persists for grid stability or as transitional capacity, CCUS on thermal plants can reduce emissions and buy time while renewables, storage and grid upgrades scale.
• Enabling low-carbon fuels and chemicals: Captured CO₂ can be used (with low-carbon hydrogen) to produce synthetic fuels, methanol, urea or polymers, helping decarbonise transport and chemicals where direct electrification is hard.
• Negative emissions pathways: When paired with bioenergy (BECCS) or Direct Air Capture (DAC) powered by renewables, CCUS can deliver net negative emissions, useful for offsetting residual emissions and meeting long-term carbon budgets.
• Industrial clusters & job creation: Clustered CCUS hubs (capture sites + shared transport/storage) can create skilled green jobs in India, stimulate manufacturing of capture equipment and support a domestic supply chain.

Key Challenges & Constraints for India

• High cost & energy penalty: Capture technologies are capital-intensive and raise operating costs, they also impose an energy penalty (lower net plant efficiency). Without strong carbon pricing or subsidies, economics are weak.
• Infrastructure needs: CCUS requires networks for CO₂ transport (pipelines) and secure storage sites. Building a safe, integrated transport and storage network involves high upfront costs and long lead times.
• Geological storage assessment & liability: India needs comprehensive, publicly available geological appraisals to identify suitable reservoirs, and clear laws on long-term liability, ownership and monitoring of stored CO₂.
• Opportunity cost & technology choice: Investment in CCUS could divert scarce public and private capital away from cheaper options like renewables, grid storage and energy efficiency if not carefully prioritised.
• Limited domestic industry & R&D: Indigenous capability for large-scale capture systems, compressors, and CO₂-tolerant materials is nascent, requiring R&D and manufacturing scale-up.

Towards Effective Utilization of CCUS Technology: 

• Create a clear national CCUS strategy: Map point sources, potential storage sites, and identify priority industrial clusters for early hubs. Publish a roadmap with timelines and responsibilities.
• Introduce credible carbon pricing / fiscal incentives: Combine carbon pricing, tax credits, capital subsidies, viability gap funding and production incentives for low-carbon products to correct market failures.
• Develop CCUS hubs & shared infrastructure: Promote public-private regional hubs where several industries share capture, transport and storage to reduce cost and risk.
• Regulatory & legal framework: Enact laws for site permitting, CO₂ property rights, long-term liability and monitoring & verification standards. Define liability transfer timelines and a stewardship regime.
• Investment in R&D and domestic manufacturing: Support research into lower-cost capture solvents, solid sorbents, membrane technologies, DAC, and scale-up of compressors and pipeline fabrication.
• Integration with hydrogen & industrial decarbonisation: Align CCUS policy with green/blue hydrogen strategies and industrial decarbonisation plans to create synergies (e.g., blue hydrogen with CCS as transitional option).

Conclusion