India Unveils Carbon Capture Units for Green Cement

Department of Science and Technology (DST) has launched five Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) testbeds specifically for the cement industry.

These industrial-scale pilots, inaugurated during the National Technology Day celebrations on May 11, 2025, mark a milestone in the country’s quest for industrial decarbonisation and signal a turning point in sustainable manufacturing under India’s net zero agenda. The testbeds, established through public-private partnerships between top academic institutions and leading cement manufacturers, are designed to demonstrate cutting-edge CCU technologies tailored for the cement sector—a major emitter in India’s construction-led economy. Together, these testbeds form India’s first coordinated CCU cluster and are part of a strategic national initiative to meet the country’s Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) and the long-term goal of becoming carbon neutral by 2070.

India’s cement sector contributes roughly 8% of the nation’s total carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions, largely due to energy-intensive clinker production and calcination processes. While the industry has made strides in energy efficiency and alternative fuels, it remains one of the so-called “hard-to-abate” sectors, meaning that full decarbonisation through conventional means is unlikely. CCU presents a transformative opportunity—capturing CO₂ directly from industrial flue gases and converting it into commercially viable products like construction aggregates, synthetic fuels, food-grade carbon dioxide, and specialty chemicals. Recognising this potential, the DST’s Centre for Energy and Sustainable Technology (CEST) division had earlier launched a specialised call to mobilise academia-industry consortia for CCU deployment in the cement industry. The goal was clear: enable the development and demonstration of integrated carbon capture and utilisation units within operational cement plants, supported by a Public Private Partnership (PPP) funding model that pools government R&D support with corporate investment.

All five testbeds are being developed as collaborative pilots within existing industrial ecosystems, ensuring relevance, scalability, and faster technology transfer. While each project has its unique technological approach, they all aim to capture and convert significant volumes of CO₂, offering viable templates for decarbonising the broader cement industry. One of the pilots, hosted at the National Council for Cement and Building Materials in collaboration with a major cement company, is designed to capture up to two tonnes of carbon dioxide per day. The system uses oxygen-enhanced calcination—a process that boosts CO₂ purity during production—and mineralises the captured gas into lightweight concrete blocks and olefins. The approach not only sequesters emissions but also generates value-added products, embodying the essence of circular carbon economy.

Another testbed will deploy a vacuum swing adsorption system to selectively extract carbon dioxide from cement kiln gases. The captured gas will be reintroduced into the manufacturing cycle by embedding it in construction materials, effectively closing the loop and aligning with circularity principles increasingly promoted in green infrastructure design. A third pilot focuses on catalysis-driven conversion. It aims to harness proprietary chemical catalysts to accelerate the transformation of CO₂ into high-value chemicals. Housed within an operational cement plant, this approach underscores India’s growing push to scale indigenous clean-tech solutions that can stand up to global climate targets.

These pilot-scale projects are expected to serve as real-world demonstration units that not only validate laboratory research but also help build industrial and investor confidence in emerging carbon technologies. Their outcomes could inform future commercial deployment and regulatory incentives, especially as India works to align its industrial development with global climate commitments. Experts from the research community have stressed that continued innovation in catalysts, electrolysers, reactors, and advanced materials is vital to making CCU economically sustainable in the long run. They noted that if successful, these innovations could dramatically reduce the cost of producing green cement and provide the industry with viable alternatives to offset carbon pricing risks in the future.

Officials overseeing the programme reiterated that this initiative is more than an academic exercise—it is an ambitious, actionable roadmap towards greener cities and industries. The cement sector, which plays a foundational role in urbanisation and infrastructure, must align with India’s commitment to environmentally responsible growth. While the current phase focuses on cement, the long-term vision includes extending CCU applications to other hard-to-abate sectors such as steel, oil and gas, fertilisers, and chemicals. The DST has already outlined plans to replicate this testbed cluster model in those industries, fostering an ecosystem where innovation, policy, and industrial strategy work in tandem.

This initiative also arrives at a time when international attention on industrial emissions is intensifying. With major global economies exploring carbon border taxes and green product certifications, India’s proactive stance on CCU could help cement exporters remain competitive in international markets by meeting stricter carbon disclosure norms. Urban development experts have hailed the move as timely, especially as Indian cities undergo rapid construction-led growth. Embedding low-carbon cement in infrastructure projects could yield long-term environmental benefits, from improved air quality to more climate-resilient buildings. In the longer term, these efforts could shape greener cityscapes and reduce the carbon footprint of affordable housing, public infrastructure, and transportation networks.

While the testbeds are still in their early stages, the ambition is clear: to build a blueprint for carbon capture that integrates seamlessly with India’s industrial fabric. With the right mix of policy support, corporate participation, and public awareness, these testbeds may well become the foundation of India’s green industrial revolution.

India Unveils Carbon Capture Units for Green Cement