India Launches First Cluster of CCU Test beds

By siliconindia  |  Thursday, 15 May 2025, 12:49 IST

India Launches First Cluster of CCU Test beds
  • India has launched five innovative Carbon Capture and Utilisation testbeds for cement sector
  • The initiative promotes collaboration between academia and industry
  • The testbeds aim to develop and deploy CCU technologies in real-world settings

In a first-of-its-kind effort to decarbonize industrial processes, the Government of India, under its Department of Science and Technology (DST), has initiated five pathbreaking Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) testbeds specifically designed for the cement sector. Unveiled on National Technology Day, May 11, 2025, this project is a major milestone in India's journey to meet its Net Zero carbon goals by 2070, promoting cooperation between academia and industry through a novel Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

The cement sector is one of the leading hard-to-abate industries, and it contributes substantially to CO₂ emissions. The recently rolled out CCU technology is expected to capture industrial process carbon dioxide and convert it into value-added products, thus spearheading sustainable industrial decarbonization solutions. This project is aligned with India's Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and is a manifestation of India's continued efforts on climate action and emission reduction based on indigenous innovation.

The testbeds will concentrate on deploying and developing CCU technologies in actual industrial environments, showcasing scalable decarbonization solutions for cement production. All testbeds are co-designed by cement firms and academic institutions, with a focus on a collaborative research and development approach. The initiative also emphasizes a translational research focus, from laboratory-scale innovations to real-world industrial applications, and includes various CCU approaches, such as catalysis, vacuum swing adsorption, and mineralization. This launch represents a turning point for India's struggle against climate change and encouraging industrial sustainability.

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