As global CO₂ concentrations climb past 420 parts per million, the urgency to decarbonize industrial systems has never been greater. A new joint study by researchers from India and Ireland proposes a recalibration: embedding CCS within the circular economy to transform emissions into economic assets rather than liabilities.
The study, led by Dr. Pratibha Gautam of SRICT, UPL University of Sustainable Technology, argues that the convergence of CCS and circular economy models could deliver a “multiplier effect for sustainability.” Instead of focusing solely on storage, the researchers emphasize carbon utilization—repurposing captured CO₂ into chemicals, building materials, or synthetic fuels—to reduce dependency on virgin raw materials while creating new green markets.
Traditional CCS frameworks concentrate on capturing CO₂ from high-emission sources like power plants and cement facilities, compressing it, and injecting it underground. While technically proven, the economics remain prohibitive: capturing and storing a ton of CO₂ typically costs between $50 and $100, depending on the process and site conditions. By contrast, integrating CCS into industrial loops that reuse carbon could offset costs through product revenues and carbon credits.
For instance, mineral carbonation, a technique analyzed in the study, converts CO₂ into stable carbonates used in cement and aggregates—offering permanent sequestration with marketable outputs. Similarly, captured carbon can serve as a feedstock for producing fertilizers, methanol, or bio-based plastics when powered by renewable hydrogen. Such integration not only cuts emissions intensity across multiple sectors but also supports domestic manufacturing resilience amid volatile global supply chains.
The circular economy’s focus on material recovery and waste valorization provides the systemic foundation CCS lacks in isolation. Industrial clusters—especially those combining energy, manufacturing, and waste management—are well positioned to close these loops. India, with its expanding renewable capacity and heavy industrial base, represents a viable test bed for such hybrid systems.
By linking CCS with renewable energy, the overall carbon footprint of the capture process can be minimized, enabling “net-negative” configurations. The researchers also explore geological and ocean storage for cases where utilization is not feasible, underscoring that a diversified portfolio of approaches will be essential to meet mid-century climate goals.
Despite the promise, the study does not overlook the barriers. CCS projects require long-term regulatory certainty, transparent monitoring frameworks, and cross-sector financing mechanisms. Many developing nations lack carbon pricing instruments or infrastructure for safe CO₂ transport and storage, constraining scalability.
Dr. Gautam and her co-authors call for policy incentives that reward carbon reuse and integrate CCS into industrial decarbonization plans. Public–private partnerships, they argue, can help de-risk investments, while targeted awareness campaigns may address public skepticism toward underground storage. Without these enablers, CCS risks remaining a niche technology rather than a mainstream tool in climate strategy.
The study ultimately reframes CCS not as a standalone climate fix but as a circular value chain component capable of generating green employment and stimulating regional economies.
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