The industrial sector in India is on a rapid growth trajectory. With rising manufacturing activity, buoyed infrastructure orders and the ever-growing demand for energy, industry is facing an additional challenge that can no longer be ignored — carbon emissions. A few years ago, the overarching business target was “getting goods out the door”, taking climate as a “back-seat driver”. Now, we’re all piling on with the “you WILL focus on emissions and sustainability performance”.
That’s one reason carbon capture and sequestration is gaining traction across India. Earlier, this technology was the stuff of research papers and climate conferences. Now, many companies are investigating how carbon capture and sequestration can enable them to grow their businesses in future without imposing undue costs on production systems. In truth, most businesses are still trying to get their heads around how carbon capture and sequestration will fit into everyday operations in industry over the next couple of years.
What is Carbon Capture and Sequestration?
To understand why industries care about this technology, it is necessary to understand what carbon capture and sequestration means. It refers essentially to capturing, before it goes into the atmosphere, the CO2 that is emitted. After it is captured, the carbon is either returned underground and stored there, or recycled for industrial uses. Many people also look for CCUS full form, which is an acronym for Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage.
In India, the interest in CCUS India infrastructure is on the rise as companies want cleaner running systems minus the cost of demolishing a manufacturing plant altogether. For many companies, carbon capture and sequestration is no longer an environmental topic only. It’s gradually entering future infrastructure and industrial development. Today developers of renewable energy, clean technology companies, and cleantech platform providers are studying how these carbon reduction systems can connect into renewable fuel and industrial infrastructure projects.
Why Industries Are Exploring Decarbonisation Solutions
In the past, industries have mainly been concerned with improving energy efficiency and the implementation of renewable energy technologies to reduce emissions. These efforts have helped many sectors, however, in their daily activities, substantial amounts of CO2 are still being emitted by sectors like cement, steel, refining, chemicals, and power generation. That’s one reason many businesses are looking at carbon capture and sequestration technologies as part of wider decarbonization solutions. Companies are also doing carbon assessment studies, and whole life carbon assessment reviews, to get a better understanding of long-term environmental impacts.
More globally, markets are influencing industrial companies’ decisions. Export-led businesses are starting to pay attention to CABM and carbon assessment systems because sustainability reporting requirements are becoming stricter in most countries. Many businesses now understand that sustainability is no longer simply a PR issue, but rather a genuine business-critical question tied to the stability of their ongoing operations, and even to their ability to operate in future. Several manufacturing companies have already started studying carbon capture and sequestration projects because global sustainability expectations are changing very quickly.
Growth of Clean Technology in India
India’s clean technology market is growing much faster than it did in the past. Where clean technology was previously associated with renewable power generation only, now it covers renewable fuels, sustainable manufacturing systems, waste-to-energy infrastructure and advanced carbon management technologies.
In India, too, many clean technology companies are working on projects associated with renewable gas infrastructure, green chemicals production, sustainable fuel systems, bioenergy projects and carbon capture and storage technologies. Simultaneously, industries are also on the path to ultra clean technology and scanning clean technology environmental policy architectures for future sustainability regulations. The shift towards low carbon infrastructure is starting to become apparent across a clutter of industrial sectors in India.
How Carbon Capture and Sequestration Works
In general, the carbon capture and sequestration process work as follows. Carbon dioxide from industrial sources is captured before it is emitted to the atmosphere; the carbon dioxide is then compressed, and transported by pipeline or other means to the injection site; and finally, it is injected into an appropriate underground storage area or used beneficially as a source of energy or other industrial material. Some industries are looking at how captured carbon can underpin manufacturing of green chemicals and cleaner industrial processes.
Others are looking at how captured carbon might assist in supporting sustainable fuel production systems in years to come. In decades past, many of these industries were primarily focused on reducing units of fuel per product manufactured: now carbon capture and sequestration technologies are part of much bigger conversations with respect to future industrial planning across the board. Modern CCUS systems are also becoming more advanced because industries now require large-scale emission management solutions capable of supporting future operational stability.
Why DPR, DFR, and Feasibility Studies Matter
The biggest sustainability projects in industry tend to require detailed planning before construction starts. For this reason, DPR, DFR, and feasibility study documents have become key parts of renewable energy and carbon management projects. Many people searching online for what is the feasibility report or the definition of feasibility report think it is a financial report, when in fact it is a comprehensive planning exercise covering technical feasibility, operational feasibility, environmental risk assessment, energy requirements, planning the infrastructure needed for the project, carbon assessment needs and other long-term viability issues.
For carbon capture and sequestration endeavors, a technical feasibility report often examines emissions quantities, technology choices, transportation systems, operating costs, environmental compliance obligations, and storage systems. Many industries also generate operational feasibility report documents before sanctioning large sustainability expenditures. Planning is essential since poorly thought out projects can lead to operational and fiscal issues down the road. This is also one reason why carbon capture and sequestration feasibility studies are becoming more common in large industrial projects.
Carbon Assessment and CABM Are Influencing Business Decisions
Industries worldwide are paying much more attention to carbon reporting than ever before. For products exporting from out of NT or from other regions, greater scrutiny is placed on measuring environmental impact and improving sustainability performance. This is why businesses are now conducting whole life carbon assessment studies, carbon footprint analysis, sustainability reporting, and environmental impact reviews.
Such studies will help the industry identify the points at which emissions are created and how low carbon infrastructure planning can contribute to enhancing future sustainability performance. Many experts are of the opinion that industries having robust carbon management infrastructure would accrue long-term operational benefits as environmental standards continue to become more stringent globally.
Green Chemicals and Sustainable Manufacturing
The increasing emphasis on cleaner industrial systems is fostering interest in green chemicals and sustainable manufacturing technologies as well. Traditional methods of manufacture having large environmental impact and higher carbon footprints, many industries are investing in green chemicals, renewable feedstock systems, sustainable fuel production, circular economy infrastructure as well as low emission industrial processes and freighting systems.
These shifts are creating opportunities for renewable energy developers, cleantech platform providers and industrial infrastructure companies in the whole of India.
Future of Carbon Capture and Sequestration in India
There is steady growth projected for India’s industrial and energy sectors in the next decade. But, it is likely that future industrial growth will be dependent on the sustainability performance and compliance with environmental regulations. That’s one potential reason why many believe carbon capture and sequestration technologies may become significantly more important in India’s future planning for industries.
Industrial facilities are expected to continue investing in CCUS India infrastructure, carbon capture and storage systems, carbon assessment technology, green fuel projects, and sustainable industrial systems. Many believe the importance of carbon capture and sequestration infrastructure could be on par with that of renewable energy systems in the next decade. As sustainability regulations continue to develop, companies investing early in cleaner technologies could enjoy augmented future operational robustness and superior business growth potential long-term.
Conclusion
India is on the verge of a critical turning point in the field of industrial sustainability and low carbon energy development. In the past the prerogative of industry was simply to grow its production capacity. it’s about to do that and take responsibility for reducing emissions and improving sustainability, all while preparing for a low carbon future. That’s why many companies are now exploring advanced decarbonisation solutions that combine renewable energy, clean technology, sustainable manufacturing, and carbon reduction infrastructure.
In many ways carbon capture and sequestration is moving from the theoretical to the practical and industrially planned. The growing emphasis on carbon capture and sequestration projects is making the earlier stages of projects in manufacturing, renewable energy, waste processing, sustainable fuels. As India moves toward a lower-carbon economy, carbon management technologies are expected to play a much bigger role in future industrial development.
Looking for Cleantech, DPR, DFR, and Feasibility Support?
Organic Recycling Systems (ORS) support DPR, DFR, feasibility studies, carbon assessment support, cleantech platform consulting, renewable infrastructure planning and decarbonisation roadmaps for industries, municipalities and developers.
Office No. 1003, 10th Floor, The Affaires, Plot No. 9, Sector-17, Sanpada, Navi Mumbai- 400705. Email: info@organicrecycling.co.in
Phone: 022-41702222
Organic Recycling Systems Limited
FAQs
1. What is carbon capture and sequestration (CCS)?
Carbon capture and sequestration is the process of capturing CO₂ emissions from industrial processes and securing them from the point of generation to the atmosphere. In most cases, the captured carbon will be stored underground in safe conditions. However, there are also some industrial applications that use the captured carbon to help reduce overall greenhouse gas emissions.
2. What challenges do industries face when implementing carbon capture projects?
Challenges in carbon capture project implementation involve high costs at the outset, infrastructure needs, and the planning of transportation and storage, as well as regulatory compliance and technology selection. The detailed feasibility study and proper project planning can overcome these challenges to ensure the success of the project in the long term.
3. What is the difference between CCS and CCUS?
CCS stands for Carbon Capture and Sequestration — trapping and burying CO2. CCUS stands for Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage — where captured carbon is not only stored but can also be used in products, fuels, chemicals, or industrial processes.
4. How do feasibility studies help carbon capture projects?
The feasibility study includes the technical, operational, and environmental aspects, along with the financial evaluations in the carbon capture project. Firms use feasibility studies to see if a project is viable, with low costs and short payback periods on investment and if it can meet long-term sustainability and compliance objectives.
5. Which industries can benefit the most from carbon capture and sequestration?
Carbon capture and storage technologies could enable the major high carbon emitting industries to include the technology in their broader decarbonization and sustainability strategies. These are mainly cement, steel, oil refining, chemicals, power generation, and waste treatment sectors.
Leave a Reply