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Carbon capture and storage (CCS) includes a suite of technologies that aim to reduce atmospheric emissions associated with large industrial emission sources, such as steel works, cement plants and thermal power stations. Balancing climate targets against the increasing emissions that result from continued expansion of these core industrial sectors represents a significant challenge for growing economies such as India. Could capturing these emissions at source and disposing of the carbon dioxide (CO₂) in porous rocks deep beneath the surface be a part of the solution? The International Energy Agency clearly thinks so, as it estimates that .

51���� work in India

51���� has been working to improve understanding of the potential for CO₂ storage as part of its International Geoscience Research and Development programme. During a successful trip to India in early 2023, BGS researchers met a wide range of stakeholders from industry, academia and policy groups to discuss the prospect of CO₂ storage. Based on these discussions, we produced a brief summary of the knowledge gaps that need to be addressed to enable India to make informed decisions on CCS. These relate to the need to:

• identify and catalogue suitable geological storage locations
• ensure protection of groundwater, soil and the surface environment
• better understand baseline seismicity and potential impacts of CO₂ injection
• develop appropriate monitoring methodologies for CO₂ storage in India
• understand public attitudes towards technologies such as CCS

An improved knowledge base is required to develop appropriate policies, including details on if, where, and how much CO₂ can be securely stored in the rocks beneath India.

A key milestone

In March 2024, Jonathan Pearce and I travelled to Mumbai to participate in an international symposium on CCS. The event was hosted by the (SEG), the learned society dedicated to promoting the science and education of exploration geophysics. This was the first international conference specifically dedicated to exploring the role of geology in CCS to be held in India and was attended by 124 registered delegates from 15 countries. A has been published.

The symposium provided an opportunity for BGS and partners to present our research, and to participate in several panel discussions and sandpit debates. As one of the co-chairs, Jonathan Pearce of BGS even had the pleasure of providing the concluding remarks!

While it may seem a little over the top to describe a single three-day symposium as a key milestone in India CCS journey, this story will ultimately both begin and end with the country geology. It is the disposition and properties of the rocks that will ultimately dictate the degree to which CCS can contribute to India emissions reduction targets. Events such as these are therefore essential in providing a forum to bring the geoscience community together to share knowledge and to exchange ideas.

Political involvement

Things are also moving at a political level in India. In July 2024, the held a  and the government of India is currently for its adoption. These initiatives will clearly require further support from the geoscience community. At BGS, we continue to collaborate with our partners in India to progress the science and to provide the knowledge to allow informed decision making.

About the author

John Williams

Senior geoscientist

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