Environment and Ecology
Carbon Capture and Utilization (CCU) Technologies
- Context: The Union Budget 2026 recently allocated ₹20,000 crore to scale up carbon capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) technologies over the next five years.
- Carbon capture and utilization (CCU) is a set of technologies designed to capture carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions from industrial point sources or directly from the atmosphere and convert them into commercially valuable products instead of storing them underground.
The process involves three main stages:
- Capture: CO₂ is separated from the air.
- Compression and transport: CO₂ is compressed and transported through pipelines or tankers.
- Conversion/utilization: CO₂ is processed into useful products.
CCU Types:
- Direct utilization: Use CO₂ as is (e.g., carbonated beverages, enhanced oil recovery).
- Chemical conversion: Convert CO₂ into chemicals (urea, polymers) or fuels (methanol).
- Bioconversion: Use algae/bacteria to convert CO₂ into biofuels, bio-fuels or feedstock.
- Mineralization: React CO₂ with minerals to form solid carbonates for bricks or green concrete.
