The Department of Science & Technology (DST) has invited proposals from Indian researchers in the area of Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS) under Accelerating CCUS Technologies (ACT) in collaboration with other ACT member countries. This is an initiative to facilitate the emergence of CO2 CCUS via translational funding of projects aimed at accelerating and maturing CCUS technology through targeted innovation and research activities.
Research on CCUS
CCUS technologies involve the capture of CO2 from fuel combustion or industrial processes, the transport of this CO2 via ship or pipeline, and either its use as a resource to create valuable products or services or its permanent storage deep underground in geological formations. CCUS technologies also provide the foundation for carbon removal or negative emissions when the CO2 comes from bio-based processes or directly from the atmosphere.
Sixteen countries, regions, and provinces are working together in ACT with the ambition to fund world-class R&D innovation that can lead to safe and cost-effective CCUS technology. Researchers interested in translational research on CCUS now have a major opportunity to accelerate and mature their technology and research activities as solutions to the growing problem of global climate change.
CCUS is one of the identified innovation challenges in the Mission Innovation (MI) Programme, a global initiative of 24 countries and the European Union to accelerate the global clean energy innovation in which DST is an active partner. The DST has already funded 19 R&D projects in the area of CCUS under the MI umbrella, partnering with 13 MI countries. ACT is seeking innovative projects that range from smaller research projects to new or already existing pilot and demonstration facility sites. ACT will address the technological, environmental, social, and economic challenges required to accelerate CCUS.
New pilot and demonstration facilities should have potential for upscaling to industrial size either in a demo phase or early commercial phase. Each project proposal has to be submitted by a project consortium consisting of at least three eligible applicants funded by at least three countries/ regions participating in the ACT call. Each project’s consortium must have the required expertise to undertake research and development within the specified themes. All funds will be allocated from national and regional budgets that support research and development as well as pilot and demonstration projects.
