India's First CO2-to-Methanol Pilot Plant Unveiled in Pune
| Aspect | Details |
|---|---|
| Event | Foundation stone unveiled for India's first CO2-to-Methanol pilot plant |
| Capacity | 1.4 Tons Per Day (TPD) |
| Location | Thermax Limited premises, Pune, Maharashtra |
| Unveiled by | Prof. Abhay Karandikar, Secretary, Department of Science and Technology (DST), Government of India |
| Aim | Demonstrate CO2 capture and utilization (CCU) technologies for net-zero carbon emissions |
| Partners | Indian Institute of Technology Delhi (IIT Delhi) and Thermax Ltd. |
| Design | Considers CO2 emissions from power plants, cement, steel, fertilizer, and refineries |
| R&D Team | Faculty members from IIT Delhi's Department of Chemical Engineering |
| Source of CO2 | Syngas from coal gasification and flue gas from carbonaceous fuel combustion |
| Objective | Serve as a design template for industrial applications and prepare indigenous manufacturers for future demands |
| Funding | Rs. 31 crore, supported by DST, Ministry of Science and Technology, under PPP mode |
| Significance | Aligns with Atmanirbhar Bharat and Viksit Bharat goals; aids decarbonization of coal-based thermal power sector (30% of India's emissions) |
| Related Policy | NITI Aayog and Ministry of Petroleum developing policies for 15% methanol-blended diesel |
| What is CCUS? | Captures CO2 from large point sources, compresses, transports, and uses or stores it in geological formations |