BURY INDIA’S SPEW?

Capturing India’s CO2 – report
October 12, 2009 (Carbon Capture Journal)

["...Investigating the prospects for Carbon Capture and Storage technology in India], [by researchers from the Universities of Surrey and Edinburgh and] commissioned by Christian Aid, examines whether CCS could be a suitable technology for cutting down India's carbon dioxide emissions. Drawing on a survey of energy experts with particular knowledge of India, it also explores how CCS might be developed and deployed in the Indian context.

"Professor Matt Leach, Director of the Centre for Environmental Strategy at the University of Surrey, said that the study shows that CCS could play a vital role in future action to reduce Indian greenhouse gas emissions within a portfolio of measures that could be implemented internationally."

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"Survey respondents expect that coal will remain 'king', playing a significant role in providing energy and electricity in India until 2050 at least. This is despite measures to significantly increase the role of other energy resources, such as wind, solar and nuclear energy.

"In this context, CCS technologies could be important [though it is not now a priority for the Indian government]. For example, it is expected that a typical CCS project at a power plant burning coal could reduce carbon dioxide emissions from that plant by at least 90%."

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[Rudra Kapila, study lead author, Scottish Centre for Carbon Storage:] "Our research suggests that developed countries will need to take the lead on demonstrating CCS at commercial scale before any commercial-scale CCS projects can be considered in India. An appropriate international framework for CCS development and deployment is required. It will need to carefully consider local conditions so that appropriate measures for knowledge sharing and technology transfer can be identified. Some survey respondents also suggested that developed country governments should contribute to the financing of initial projects and wider deployment of CCS in India."

"…India is currently building a fleet of Ultra Mega Power Plants (UMPPs) that will use significant volumes of coal to make electricity for several decades. They will not use CCS when they start-up in the next few years. Having the option to fit CCS to these plants later in their lives could, however, make a significant contribution within an international context for reducing carbon dioxide emissions in the future…The report, therefore, suggests… that these plants are built 'carbon capture ready'. This should ensure that CCS technology could be installed in the future."