India Unveils First Cluster of Five Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) Testbeds for Cement Sector | Current Affairs | Vision IAS
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India Unveils First Cluster of Five Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) Testbeds for Cement Sector

Posted 15 May 2025

2 min read

Aim is to develop & deploy innovative CCU Test bed in Cement Sector with thrust on Developing CO2 capture + CO2 Utilization integrated unit in an Industrial set up through Public Private Partnership (PPP) funding model.

  • Ministry: Department of Science and Technology (DST) under Ministry of Science & Technology.
  • The testbeds will showcase innovative processes like- 
    • Oxygen-enhanced calcination: CO₂ to concrete blocks & olefins (e.g., ethylene, propylene).
    • Carbon-negative mineralization: Locks CO₂ into rock.
    • Vacuum Swing Adsorption: Separate CO₂ from cement kiln gases and integrate it back into construction materials.

About Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU)

  • Definition: CCU is a set of technologies that allow for the capture & use of carbon as a feedstock for making essential products such as fuels, chemicals, etc, which are predominantly derived from fossil resources.
  • Carbon Capture:
    • From industrial (e.g., cement plants) or energy (e.g., biomass power plants) sources: Technologies like membranes, solvent absorption, or adsorption separate CO₂ from flue gases.
    • Directly from the air (Direct Air Capture - DAC): Ambient air is drawn through a gas trapping system where CO2 is isolated from the rest of the air and then released to be used or stored.
  • Carbon Utilisation: Once captured, CO₂ can be utilised through two main pathways: 
    • Direct Utilisation & CO₂-to-Products (See image)
  • Tags :
  • CCU
  • Public Private Partnership (PPP)
  • Carbon-negative mineralization
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