**Summary:**
In response to Lok Sabha Unstarred Question No. 1674, the Ministry of Science and Technology, Department of Science and Technology (DST), outlines the objectives and progress of the Carbon Capture Utilisation (CCU) testbeds initiative. The primary objective of the CCU testbeds is to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial point sources, particularly in hard-to-abate sectors, and convert it into value-added products such as synthetic fuels, urea, concrete aggregates, and food-grade CO2. These testbeds serve as platforms for validating and deploying CCU technologies at a small scale within real industrial settings through collaborations between industry and academia. This initiative aims to facilitate industrial decarbonization, especially in emissions-intensive sectors like coal gasification plants and cement, by promoting a circular carbon economy, aligning with India's Net Zero target by 2070.
Currently, DST has supported the establishment of two CCU testbeds focused on coal gasification facilities. The first testbed is located in Pune, Maharashtra, in partnership with the Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi and Thermax Limited, Pune. The second is located in Hyderabad, Telangana, in partnership with CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad and Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Hyderabad Corporate R&D.
These two testbeds operate under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, integrating academic institutions as technology designers and thermal power industries as technology providers. Furthermore, an Expert Panel constituted by DST has recommended the establishment of five additional CCU testbeds in the country under a PPP model. These future testbeds will integrate academic institutions as technology designers and cement industries as technology providers, with funding shared between DST and the respective cement industry partners at a ratio of 3:1 of the total project cost.
Key Entities Referenced
Carbon Capture Utilisation (CCU): A process of capturing carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial sources and converting it into valuable products.
Department of Science and Technology (DST): A department under the Ministry of Science and Technology, Government of India, responsible for promoting science and technology.
Net Zero by 2070: India's target to achieve a balance between the amount of greenhouse gas produced and the amount removed from the atmosphere by the year 2070.
Indian Institute of Technology, Delhi: An academic institution partnering in the CCU test bed initiative.
Thermax Limited, Pune, Maharashtra: An industry partner in the CCU test bed initiative, located in Pune, Maharashtra.
Bharat Heavy Electricals Limited (BHEL), Hyderabad, Telangana: An industry partner in the CCU test bed initiative, located in Hyderabad, Telangana.
CSIR-Indian Institute of Chemical Technology, Hyderabad, Telangana: An academic institution partnering in the CCU test bed initiative, located in Hyderabad, Telangana.
Public-Private Partnership (PPP): A collaborative model involving government and private sector entities for the development and operation of CCU test beds.
GOVERNMENT OF INDIA
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
LOK SABHA
UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1674
ANSWERED ON 30/07/2025
CARBON CAPTURE UTILISATION
†1674. SMT. SHOBHANABEN MAHENDRASINH BARAIYA:
SHRI CHAVDA VINOD LAKHAMSHI:
Will the Minister of SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY be pleased to
state:
(a) the objectives and importance of Carbon Capture Utilisation
(CCU) test beds initiative;
(b) whether the Government has set up five CCU testing centres
(Test beds) in the country;
(c) if so, the details of the specific geographical position and
partner institutions of these testing centres; and
(d) whether these testing centres are part of public-private
partnership model in integrating educational institutions and cement
industries and if so, the details thereof?
ANSWER
MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) OF THE
MINISTRY OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY AND EARTH SCIENCES
(DR. JITENDRA SINGH)
विज्ञान और प्रौद्योगिकी तथा पथ्ृ िी विज्ञान मंत्रालय के राज्य मंत्री (स्ितंत्र प्रभार)
(डॉ. जितेंद्र स हं )
(a) The objectives and importance of Carbon Capture Utilisation
(CCU) testbeds is to capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) emission from
industrial point sources in hard-to-abate sectors and convert it into
value-added products like synthetic fuels, urea, concrete aggregates,
and food-grade CO₂. These testbeds are going to act as a platform for
validating and deploying CCU technologies at small scale in real
industrial settings through Industry-Academia collaborations. This
initiative is important to enable industrial decarbonisation in the
country with special focus on emissions-intensive sectors like coal
Page 1 of 2gasification plants and cement by promoting circular carbon
economy, thereby aligning well with India’s overarching target of Net-
Zero by 2070.
(b) The Department of Science and Technology (DST) has
supported the establishment of two Test beds in the country for
research and testing of CCU technologies in the coal gasification
facilities.
(c) The details of the specific geographical position and partner
institutions of the two supported test beds are provided in the table
below:
Sl. Geographical Partner Institutions
No. position Academia Industry
Pune, Indian Institute of Thermax
1.
Maharashtra Technology, Delhi Limited, Pune
Bharat Heavy
CSIR-Indian Institute of
Electricals
Hyderabad, Chemical Technology,
2. Limited (BHEL)
Telangana Hyderabad
Corporate R&D
- Hyderabad
(d) These two supported CCU test beds operate in Public-Private
Partnership (PPP) mode, integrating academic institutions as
technology designers and thermal power industries as technology
providers. Additionally, an Expert Panel constituted by DST has
recommended setting up five CCU test beds in the country in PPP
mode, integrating academic institutions as technology designers and
cement industries as technology providers, with financing shared
between DST and respective cement industry partners at a ratio of
3:1 of the total project cost.
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