Government Sets Up 5 CCU Testbeds in Cement Sector Under PPP Mode
The Department of Science and Technology has approved setting up of five Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) testbeds in the cement sector under the PPP mode for industrial decarbonisation. JK Cement, JSW Cement, Dalmia Cement and Ultratech Cement are the industry partners.
May 15, 2025. By Mrinmoy Dey
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.
DST has approved setting up of five CCU testbeds for translational R&D, to be set up in Academia-Industry collaboration in PPP mode, engaging with premier research laboratories as knowledge partners and top Cement companies as the industry partner.
Recognising 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 Utilization integrated unit in an Industrial set up through an innovative Public Private Partnership (PPP) funding model.
“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,” noted DST in a statement.
At the National Council for Cement and Building Materials in Ballabhgarh, Haryana, a pilot plant aims to capture 2 tonnes of CO₂ per day using oxygen-enhanced calcination and convert it into lightweight concrete blocks and olefins. This initiative is being developed in partnership with JK Cement Ltd.
Testbed-2, a collaboration between IIT Kanpur and JSW Cement, will showcase carbon-negative mineralization — a process that permanently locks CO₂ into solid minerals, effectively turning pollution into stone.
In Testbed-3, IIT Bombay and Dalmia Cement are working together to develop a catalyst-driven CO₂ capture process. This solution will be deployed at a functioning cement plant, marking a significant step toward scaling up indigenous clean technologies.
Testbed-4, led by CSIR-IIP, IIT Tirupati, IISc, and JSW Cement, will use a Vacuum Swing Adsorption process to separate CO₂ from cement kiln gases and reintegrate it into construction materials, creating a closed-loop system for emissions.
Finally, Testbed-5, a partnership between IIT Madras, BITS Pilani (Goa), and Ultratech Cement, focuses on pioneering carbon-lowering interventions that blend cutting-edge academic research with on-the-ground industrial application.
“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,” noted the statement from DST.
It further added that 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.
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