Experts discuss CCUS as key to India’s Net Zero strategy at AMCHAM

The Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) targets were set during the 32nd Annual General Meeting of the American Chamber of Commerce in India (AMCHAM) held in New Delhi, India.

The event featured a panel discussion on ‘Achieving Net Zero Emissions Goal – India Embarks on CCUS Mission’ where Atanu Mukherjee, President and CEO, Dastur Energy, spoke about the role CCUS technologies can play in India’s drive to achieve its net zero emissions goal.

The panel was attended by leading representatives of industry and government, including Mukherjee, Dr VK Saraswat, member, NITI Aayog, Government of India, Anil Bhatia, CEO, Emerson India and Ashish Modi, president, Honeywell India.

The discussion highlighted the importance of cooperation between India and the US in promoting India’s energy transformation and the potential of CCUS technologies.

“India’s commitment to achieving net zero emissions by 2070 is a bold and ambitious goal that requires innovative solutions and international cooperation,” Mukherjee said during the panel.

He added, “Dastur Energy is proud to be part of this crucial discussion and believes that CCUS technologies can play a critical role in India’s journey towards a sustainable energy future.”

Panelists discussed the impact that CCUS can have in reducing CO2 emissions in the Indian industrial and energy sectors.

According to the International Energy Agency, to achieve the long-term goal of net zero emissions, the total amount of CO2 captured by various industrial sectors must exceed 5 gigatonnes per year (gtpa) by 2050, and must double to exceed 10 gtpa by 2070.

Dr. Saraswat of NITI Aayog highlighted the strategic importance of CCUS in achieving India’s climate goals, stating, “CCUS technologies will play a key role in helping India achieve its ambitious net-zero emissions target by 2070.”

He also emphasised the need to prioritise the development and implementation of CCUS solutions in the Indian industrial and energy sectors.

“Collaboration with international partners like the US will be crucial to accelerate innovation, increase implementation and reduce costs. NITI Aayog is committed to supporting policies and initiatives that promote CCUS and other clean energy technologies to ensure a sustainable future for India,” added Dr Saraswat.

The AMCHAM meeting also highlighted the great potential for cooperation between India and the US in the energy sector.

As two of the world’s largest economies and energy consumers, both countries have a unique opportunity to cooperate in the development and deployment of clean energy technologies, including CCUS, to address the challenges of climate change and sustainable development.

In India, the government and the private sector are collaborating on several large-scale CCUS projects, particularly in the power and industrial sectors. One such initiative is the Talcher Fertilisers project, which aims to capture and store CO2 from coal gasification processes.

In the U.S., significant investment is being directed toward developing CCUS technologies through initiatives such as the CarbonSAFE program and the recently passed Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act.

Companies like ExxonMobil and Chevron are also investing heavily in CCUS, with projects like the Houston Carbon Capture Hub and expansions of existing CO2 storage facilities.