India Launches First Cluster of CCU Testbeds to Decarbonize Cement Sector

In a landmark move to combat industrial carbon emissions, the Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India, launched the country’s first cluster of five Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) testbeds specifically aimed at the cement sector. Announced on National Technology Day 2025, this initiative marks a significant stride in India’s path toward achieving its Net Zero carbon targets by 2070, uniting academia and industry under an innovative Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model.

Why in News?

India has unveiled five Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) testbeds focused on the cement sector — a hard-to-abate industry — to pioneer sustainable solutions in industrial decarbonization. The announcement came during the National Technology Day celebrations on May 11, 2025, reflecting India’s continued commitment to achieving climate action targets and reducing emissions through indigenous innovation.

Background and Objective

• The cement industry is one of the top hard-to-abate sectors contributing significantly to CO₂ emissions.
• CCU technology enables capturing CO₂ from industrial processes and transforming it into value-added products.
• The DST’s initiative aligns with India’s commitment to meet its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and achieve Net Zero by 2070.

Key Objectives

• Develop and deploy CCU technologies in industrial settings.
• Facilitate academia-industry collaboration through PPP.
• Demonstrate scalable decarbonization solutions for cement manufacturing.
• Promote innovation in CO₂ capture and utilization technologies.

Salient Features

• Public-Private Partnership Model: Each testbed is co-developed by academic institutions and cement companies.
• Focus on Translational R&D: Moving from lab-scale to industrial deployment.
• Diverse CCU Approaches: From catalysis to vacuum swing adsorption and mineralization.

Snapshot of the Five CCU Testbeds

Testbed Location & Partners Key Focus

1. Ballabhgarh, Haryana (JK Cement + NCCBM) Captures 2 TPD CO₂ using oxygen-enhanced calcination to produce concrete blocks and olefins.
2. IIT Kanpur + JSW Cement CO₂ mineralization to lock carbon in solid minerals (carbon-negative process).
3. IIT Bombay + Dalmia Cement Catalyst-based CO₂ capture at a live cement plant.
4. CSIR-IIP, IIT Tirupati, IISc + JSW Cement Uses Vacuum Swing Adsorption to separate CO₂ and reintegrate into materials.
5. IIT Madras & BITS Pilani, Goa + Ultratech Cement Experimental carbon-reducing interventions for broader industrial impact.

Broader Impact

• Showcases scalable decarbonization pathways.
• Reduces the carbon footprint of a major industrial sector.
• Encourages future scale-up and commercialization.
• Enhances research into green cement, sustainable materials, and advanced CO₂ utilization.