Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) is transforming carbon emissions into valuable industrial resources. From green fuels to concrete, CCU could become a core pillar of global decarbonisation.
Author: Aditya Pareek | EQMint
Carbon Capture and Utilisation: Turning Emissions Into Economic Infrastructure
Climate conversations are evolving. The early years were dominated by a singular focus on reducing emissions through renewable energy and efficiency. Today, as the world confronts the complexity of decarbonising heavy industry, a more nuanced toolkit is emerging. Among the most strategically important tools is Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU).
CCU represents a shift in thinking — from treating carbon dioxide (CO₂) purely as waste to recognising it as a resource that can be engineered into useful products. While it is not a standalone solution to climate change, it plays a critical role in addressing emissions from sectors where elimination is technologically or economically difficult.
Carbon Capture and Utilisation refers to technologies that capture CO₂ from industrial exhaust streams such as cement kilns, steel furnaces, refineries, or chemical plants — or directly from the air — and convert it into commercially valuable outputs instead of permanently storing it underground. This differentiates CCU from Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS), which focuses primarily on long-term geological storage.
CCU in Construction: Greener Concrete Revolution
Heavy industries generate process emissions that cannot be eliminated simply by switching to renewable energy. Cement production releases CO₂ during limestone calcination. Steel manufacturing emits CO₂ during iron ore reduction. Chemical production relies on fossil carbon as feedstock. Even if powered entirely by renewable electricity, these industries would still emit carbon unless capture technologies are deployed.
One of the most commercially advanced CCU applications involves construction materials and mineralisation. Captured CO₂ can be injected into concrete or reacted with industrial waste such as slag and fly ash to form stable carbonates. Cement production accounts for roughly 7–8% of global CO₂ emissions, making this pathway especially significant.
Another major pathway is synthetic fuels. Captured CO₂ combined with green hydrogen can produce methanol, sustainable aviation fuel, and other synthetic energy carriers. When powered by renewable energy, these fuels can significantly reduce lifecycle emissions, particularly in aviation and maritime sectors where electrification is difficult.
CO₂ as a Chemical Feedstock
CO₂ can also serve as a feedstock in chemical and polymer production. It can replace fossil-derived carbon in plastics, polyols, and industrial solvents. While some of these products may eventually release CO₂ at end-of-life, they reduce demand for virgin fossil extraction and can improve overall system efficiency when lifecycle accounting is properly conducted.
Biological conversion pathways are also being explored. Engineered microorganisms and algae can convert CO₂ into biofuels, proteins, or specialty chemicals. Though less mature than mineralisation or chemical pathways, they represent promising areas of innovation.
However, CCU adoption depends on economics and policy. Carbon pricing mechanisms, industrial incentives, infrastructure for CO₂ transport, and reliable carbon accounting systems are essential. According to global climate assessments, CCUS deployment must expand significantly to align with net-zero pathways, yet costs and energy requirements remain key challenges.
Synthetic Fuels: The Future of Aviation and Shipping
For India, CCU offers a pragmatic opportunity. With strong infrastructure growth and expanding industrial output, the country can integrate CCU into cement, steel, and refining clusters. With proper lifecycle assessments, research collaboration, and policy clarity, CCU could strengthen both environmental performance and industrial competitiveness.
CCU does not replace renewable energy, efficiency improvements, or broader climate strategies. Instead, it complements them by managing unavoidable emissions. It introduces flexibility into industrial decarbonisation and reframes carbon from liability to resource.
As climate policy matures, the focus shifts from merely reducing emissions to intelligently managing unavoidable ones. CCU provides engineering realism in that transition. The next decade will determine whether CCU becomes a niche tool or a core pillar of industrial decarbonisation — but its strategic importance is increasingly clear.
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