In May 2025, the Department of Science & Technology (DST), which works under the Ministry of Science & Technology (MoS&T) launched 5 Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) testbeds in the cement industry. This is a 1st–of-its-kind research and innovation cluster to reduce industrial carbon emissions.
- The testbeds have been established across 5 states: Haryana, Uttar Pradesh(UP), Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh(AP), and Goa, with the pilot facility situated in Ballabgarh, Haryana.
- The initiative marks a major step towards India’s Climate Action Plan to achieve its Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and transition to a carbon-neutral economy by 2070.
Background:
i.These 5 CCU testbeds were formally announced by the DST on the occasion of 27th National Technology Day celebrations (observed on May 11, 2025) held at the Dr. Ambedkar International Centre in New Delhi (Delhi).
ii.Union Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC) Dr. Jitendra Singh, MoST, who attended the event as Chief Guest, handed over the grants to the Test bed teams.
- Key Dignitaries: Dr. Rajesh Gokhale, Secretary of Department of Biotechnology (DBT) under MoST; Dr. Ajai Choudhary, Co-founder of HCL; Dr. Rajesh Pathak, Secretary of Technology Development Board (TDB) under DST; among others were present at the event.
About CCU Testbeds:
i.The Climate Energy and Sustainable Technology (CEST), division of DST launched a unique call to mobilise academia-industry consortia proposal for deployment CCU in the cement sector.
ii.These newly launched CCU testbeds will function under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. They are designed to support translational Research & Development (R&D) in collaboration with premier academic and industrial partners.
- Under this PPP model, premier research laboratories will be engaged as knowledge partners and top cement companies as the industry partners.
iii.These testbeds are aimed to develop and deploy integrated carbon dioxide capture and utilization units in operational cement plants.
iv.Each of these 5 test beds will address a different facet of CCU, from cutting-edge catalysis to vacuum-based gas separation.
v.The outcomes of these pilot projects will provide proof-of-concept for CCU deployment in the cement industry and will serve as a model for scaling up and commercialization across other sectors.
- Also, these testbeds are expected to boost the development of catalysts, materials, electrolyser technologies, reactors, and electronics aimed to reduce the cost of green cement.
About 5 CCU Testbeds:
i.Testbed-1: It will be established by National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) at its headquarters in Ballabhgarh (Haryana) in partnership with Kanpur (Uttar Pradesh, UP)-based JK Cement Limited.
- This proposed plant aims to capture 2 tonnes of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) per day, using oxygen-enhanced calcinations and transform it into lightweight concrete blocks and olefins.
ii.Testbed-2: It will be set up by Kanpur (UP)-based Indian Institute of Technology (IIT-Kanpur), UP in collaboration with Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based JSW Cement Limited in UP.
- This testbed will demonstrate carbon-negative mineralization, a method that captures CO2 into solid minerals which literally turn pollution into rock.
iii.Testbed-3: It will be established by Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based IIT-Bombay, Mumbai(Maharashtra) in partnership with Dalmia (Bharat)Cement Limited in Maharashtra .
- It will develop a catalyst-driven CO2 capture process. This proposed plant is expected to be installed at an actual cement plant.
iv.Testbed-4: It will be set up in AP by Council of Scientific & Industrial Research –Indian Institute of Petroleum (CSIR-IIP) based in Dehradun, Uttarakhand, in collaboration with Tirupati (Andhra Pradesh, AP)-based IIT-Tirupati; Indian Institute of Science (IISc) Bengaluru (Karnataka); and JSW Cement.
- It utilizes vacuum swing adsorption technology to separate CO₂ from cement kiln gases and reintegrate it into construction materials, creating a closed-loop system for emissions.
v.Testbed-5: It will be established in Goa by Chennai (Tamil Nadu, TN)-based IIT-Madras and Birla Institute of Technology and Science (BITS Pilani) in Goa, in collaboration with Mumbai (Maharashtra)-based Ultratech Cement Limited, a flagship cement company of Aditya Birla Group.
- This proposed plant is focused on innovative carbon-lowering interventions.
About Ministry of Science and Technology (MoS&T):
Minister of State (MoS) (Independent Charge, IC)– Dr. Jitendra Singh (Constituency- Udhampur, Jammu & Kashmir, J&K)
