First CCU Testbed Cluster for Cement Sector

On 14th May 2025, a major step toward Net Zero: DST partners with academia and industry to pilot carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) in one of the most carbon-intensive sectors.

Key Points

Milestone Launch: India’s Department of Science and Technology (DST) has unveiled five Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) testbeds for the cement industry, forming the country’s first national CCU research and innovation cluster.
Sector Focus: Cement — a hard-to-abate but essential sector — is the first industrial focus for CCU deployment under this initiative, due to its high emission intensity and central role in infrastructure.
Net Zero Push: The initiative supports India’s Climate Action Plan and NDC goals, and the 2070 carbon neutrality target.
PPP Model: The testbeds will operate under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model, bringing together:
- Premier research institutions
- Top cement manufacturers
- Government support via DST’s CEST Division
Project Scope:
- Focus areas include CO₂ capture, utilisation technologies, and integrated CO₂-to-product systems.
- Innovations will explore synthetic fuels, urea, chemicals, aggregates, and food-grade CO₂.
Innovation Platform: The testbeds will support R&D in:
- Catalyst development
- Electrolysers
- Reactor design
- Vacuum-based gas separation
- Advanced materials and electronics