NITI Aayog proposes decarbonising of industrial emissions

Source: The post is based on the article “NITI Aayog proposes decarbonising of industrial emissions” published in The Hindu on 30th November 2022.

What is the News?

NITI Aayog has released a report titled ‘Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage Policy Framework and its Deployment Mechanism in India’.

What is Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage(CCUS)?

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Why is Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage(CCUS) important for India?

India is the 3rd largest emitter of CO2 in the world after China and the US, with estimated annual emissions of about 2.6 gigatonnes per annum(gtpa). 

The Government of India has committed to reducing CO2 emissions by 50% by 2050 and reaching net-zero by 2070. 

Industries such as steel, cement, oil, gas, petrochemicals, chemicals and fertilisers, have a critical role to play in the country to halve CO2 emissions by 2050.

Therefore, a sustainable solution for the decarbonisation of sectors that contribute to 70% of emissions is needed.

CCUS has an important and critical role to play in it, especially for India to accomplish net-zero by 2070.

What is the significance of CCUS Technology?

CCUS technology would help in promoting the low carbon-hydrogen economy and in the removal of the CO2 stock from the atmosphere.

CCUS projects will also lead to significant employment generation. It estimates that about 750 mtpa of carbon capture by 2050 can create employment opportunities for about 8-10 million on a full-time equivalent (FTE) basis in a phased manner.

CCUS can provide a wide variety of opportunities to convert the captured CO2 to different value-added products like green urea, food and beverage form application, building materials (concrete and aggregates), chemicals (methanol and ethanol), and polymers (including bio-plastics).

What are the suggestions given by NITI Aayog for CCUS implementation in India?

The key to a successful CCUS implementation in India was to enact a policy framework that supported the creation of sustainable and viable markets for CCUS projects. 

Under the framework, CCUS policy should be carbon credits or incentives based on seed and promote the CCUS sector in India through tax and cash credits. 

Over time (probably beyond 2050), the policy should transition to carbon taxes, to enable reaching India’s net-zero goals by 2070. The policy should also establish early-stage financing and funding mechanisms for CCUS projects.

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