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Many industries have limited options to decarbonise

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In the light of the recent announcement by NTPC of using Carbon Clean’s CDRMax™ carbon capture technology, Prateek Bumb, Co-Founder & CTO, Carbon Clean Solutions Limited, discusses their technology and its impact on industrial decarbonisation.

Tell us about the design and carbon capture power of the NTPC Power Plant by Carbon Clean.
The carbon capture plant is designed to capture 20 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) per day, from the flue gas of Unit-13 of the Vindhyachal Super Thermal Power Station. The CO2 will eventually be combined with hydrogen to produce 10 tonnes per day of methanol through a catalytic hydrogenation process.
Carbon Clean’s CDRMax™ carbon capture technology is being used for this demonstration project, which is the first step toward decarbonising the power plant. The objectives of the project are to review the economics, design optimisation and waste heat utilisation, in order to further reduce the overall cost of carbon capture and utilisation. Evidence suggests that it will be both feasible and cost-effective, by using our carbon capture technology – CDRMaxTM.

What is the key technology backing the power plant?
Carbon Clean’s CDRMax™ carbon capture technology can be used with point source gases that contain CO2 concentrations between 3 per cent and 25 per cent by volume and produces CO2 with purities greater than 99 per cent, which can then be sold, reused or sequestered.
The CDRMax™ process uses Carbon Clean’s proprietary solvent, process equipment design, and advanced heat integration to significantly reduce both capital and operating costs. Due to an extremely low rate of corrosion, smaller equipment, and other improvements, CDRMax™ has been proven to provide a 20 per cent CapEx reduction compared to other available solutions. Thanks to lower heat and energy demand, CDRMax™ reduces OpEx by 30 per cent to 40 per cent compared to other available carbon capture solutions.

Tell us about the disposal of the captured carbon.
Carbon utilisation or storage at industrial plants is determined on a case-by-case basis. For example, the carbon captured at the St Fergus Gas plant will be transported and permanently stored offshore, as part of the Acorn Project. Meanwhile, in a project with Tuticorin Alkali Chemicals & Fertilizers Limited, India, the captured carbon is converted to soda ash and sold to Unilever, which uses it to manufacture cleaning products.

What impact is Carbon Clean planning to make on industrial decarbonisation?
Heavy industry accounts for around 30 per cent of global carbon emissions. Many industries – such as cement, steel, and refineries – have limited options to decarbonise. Point source carbon capture offers these industries a means of tackling their emissions and it is available now.
Carbon Clean is leading innovation in point source carbon capture and addressing the barriers to mass deployment, which have mainly been the cost and space requirements to install the technology.
Our latest fully modular carbon capture solution, CycloneCC, overcomes these barriers. CycloneCC has a footprint that is up to 50 per cent smaller than conventional carbon capture units and it will be deployable in less than eight weeks. It also has the potential to reduce CapEx and OpEx by up to 50 per cent and drive down the cost of carbon capture to $30/tonne on average, which would make the economic case for carbon capture undeniable.
This latest innovation, alongside Carbon Clean’s recent funding round, puts the company on track to deliver industrial decarbonisation on a gigatonne scale by the mid-2030s.

How do you picture your contribution to the Indian industrial economy›s goal to reach net zero by 2070?
Outside of the project with NTCP, Carbon Clean is working with Tata Steel and Tuticorin Alkali Chemicals & Fertilizers in India. We also have a joint venture with Veolia – Veolia Carbon Clean – that is committed to reducing industrial carbon dioxide emissions and helping India achieve its climate goals through the development of a series of carbon capture and compressed biogas (CBG) projects.
Looking forward, achieving net zero in India, will require a collaborative effort between hard-to-abate sectors, government and technology providers, such as Carbon Clean.

Kanika Mathur

Concrete

India Sets Up First Carbon Capture Testbeds for Cement Industry

Five CCU testbeds launched to decarbonise cement production

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The Department of Science and Technology (DST) recently unveiled a pioneering national initiative: five Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) testbeds in the cement sector, forming a first-of-its-kind research and innovation cluster to combat industrial carbon emissions.
This is a significant step towards India’s Climate Action for fostering National Determined Contributions (NDCs) targets and to achieve net zero decarbonisation pathways for Industry Transition., towards the Government’s goal to achieve a carbon-neutral economy by 2070.
Carbon Capture Utilisation (CCU) holds significant importance in hard-to-abate sectors like Cement, Steel, Power, Oil &Natural Gas, Chemicals & Fertilizers in reducing emissions by capturing carbon dioxide from industrial processes and converting it to value add products such as synthetic fuels, Urea, Soda, Ash, chemicals, food grade CO2 or concrete aggregates. CCU provides a feasible pathway for these tough to decarbonise industries to lower their carbon footprint and move towards achieving Net Zero Goals while continuing their operations efficiently. DST has taken major strides in fostering R&D in the CCUS domain.
Concrete is vital for India’s economy and the Cement industry being one of the main hard-to-abate sectors, is committed to align with the national decarbonisation commitments. New technologies to decarbonise emission intensity of the cement sector would play a key role in achieving of national net zero targets.
Recognizing the critical need for decarbonising the Cement sector, the Energy and Sustainable Technology (CEST) Division of Department launched a unique call for mobilising Academia-Industry Consortia proposals for deployment of Carbon Capture Utilisation (CCU) in Cement Sector. This Special call envisaged to develop and deploy innovative CCU Test bed in Cement Sector with thrust on Developing CO2 capture + CO2 Utilisation integrated unit in an Industrial set up through an innovative Public Private Partnership (PPP) funding model.
As a unique initiative and one of its first kind in India, DST has approved setting up of five CCU testbeds for translational R&D, to be set up in Academia-Industry collaboration under this significant initiative of DST in PPP mode, engaging with premier research laboratories as knowledge partners and top Cement companies as the industry partner.
On the occasion of National Technology Day celebrations, on May 11, 2025 the 5 CCU Cement Test beds were announced and grants had been handed over to the Test bed teams by the Chief Guest, Union Minister of State (Independent Charge) for Science and Technology; Earth Sciences and Minister of State for PMO, Department of Atomic Energy, Department of Space, Personnel, Public Grievances and Pensions, Dr Jitendra Singh in the presence of Secretary DST Prof. Abhay Karandikar.
The five testbeds are not just academic experiments — they are collaborative industrial pilot projects bringing together India’s top research institutions and leading cement manufacturers under a unique Public-Private Partnership (PPP) model. Each testbed addresses a different facet of CCU, from cutting-edge catalysis to vacuum-based gas separation.
The outcomes of this innovative initiative will not only showcase the pathways of decarbonisation towards Net zero goals through CCU route in cement sector, but should also be a critical confidence building measure for potential stakeholders to uptake the deployed CCU technology for further scale up and commercialisation.
It is envisioned that through continuous research and innovation under these test beds in developing innovative catalysts, materials, electrolyser technology, reactors, and electronics, the cost of Green Cement via the deployed CCU technology in Cement Sector may considerably be made more sustainable.
Secretary DBT Dr Rajesh Gokhale, Dr Ajai Choudhary, Co-Founder HCL, Dr. Rajesh Pathak, Secretary, TDB, Dr Anita Gupta Head CEST, DST and Dr Neelima Alam, Associate Head, DST were also present at the programme organized at Dr Ambedkar International Centre, New Delhi.

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Concrete

JK Lakshmi Adopts EVs to Cut Emissions in Logistics

Electric vehicles deployed between JK Puram and Kalol units

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JK Lakshmi Cement, a key player in the Indian cement industry, has announced the deployment of electric vehicles (EVs) in its logistics operations. This move, made in partnership with SwitchLabs Automobiles, will see EVs transporting goods between the JK Puram Plant in Sirohi, Rajasthan, and the Kalol Grinding Unit in Gujarat.
The announcement follows a successful pilot project that showcased measurable reductions in carbon emissions while maintaining efficiency. Building on this, the company is scaling up EV integration to enhance sustainability across its supply chain.
“Sustainability is integral to our vision at JK Lakshmi Cement. Our collaboration with SwitchLabs Automobiles reflects our continued focus on driving innovation in our logistics operations while taking responsibility for our environmental footprint. This initiative positions us as a leader in transforming the cement sector’s logistics landscape,” said Arun Shukla, President & Director, JK Lakshmi Cement.
This deployment marks a significant step in aligning with India’s push for greener transport infrastructure. By embracing clean mobility, JK Lakshmi Cement is setting an example for the industry, demonstrating that environmental responsibility can go hand in hand with operational efficiency.
The company continues to embed sustainability into its operations as part of a broader goal to reduce its carbon footprint. This initiative adds to its vision of building a more sustainable and eco-friendly future.
JK Lakshmi Cement, part of the 135-year-old JK Organisation, began operations in 1982 and has grown to become a recognised name in Indian cement. With a presence across Northern, Western, and Eastern India, the company has a cement capacity of 16.5 MTPA, with a target to reach 30 MT by 2030. Its product range includes ready-mix concrete, gypsum plaster, wall putty, and autoclaved aerated fly ash blocks.

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Concrete

Holcim UK drives sustainable construction

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Holcim UK has released a report titled ‘Making Sustainable Construction a Reality,’ outlining its five-fold commitment to a greener future. The company aims to focus on decarbonisation, circular economy principles, smarter building methods, community engagement, and integrating nature. Based on a survey of 2,000 people, only 41 per cent felt urban spaces in the UK are sustainably built. A significant majority (82 per cent) advocated for more green spaces, 69 per cent called for government leadership in sustainability, and 54 per cent saw businesses as key players. Additionally, 80 per cent of respondents stressed the need for greater transparency from companies regarding their environmental practices.

Image source:holcim

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