BGS hosts India for ‘deep dive’ on carbon capture and storage

BGS hosted an Indian delegation of experts from 14 to 18 July as they deepen their understanding of the UK’s carbon capture and storage (CCS) landscape, with the aim of furthering India’s potential use of the technology. The visit resulted from a new UK/India partnership, the Centre of Innovation in Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage.

Carbon capture, utilisation and storage (CCUS) includes a suite of technologies that aim to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions associated with large industrial sources such as steel works, cement plants and other energy-intensive industries. India is currently working on a new policy framework for CCS within the country, which will assist in India’s goal of becoming net zero by 2070.

The Indian group visited to explore research outcomes in CO₂ storage at BGS and to further opportunities for knowledge exchange between research groups in the UK and India. It also provided an opportunity for the team to learn about key policy and regulatory approaches in the UK that could be applied in India.

It’s been highly exciting and insightful to visit and interact with the premier groups involved in CO₂ storage, capture and utilisation research at BGS, Heriot-Watt University and Imperial College during this deep dive visit by the Indian delegation, organised by the British High Commission. I am highly impressed with the excellent and innovative research work being done at BGS in the area of CO₂ storage research.

I really appreciate and thank BGS for the excellent coordination and for organising the meetings for the delegation across UK to explore the possibility of collaborations under the Indo-UK Net Zero Innovation Partnership.

Dr Neelima Alam, Department of Science and Technology, Govt. of India

The delegation visited BGS’s Edinburgh office before being taken on a tour of Heriot-Watt University’s Research Centre for Carbon Solutions. Following this, the group took in BGS’s headquarters in Keyworth, Nottinghamshire, before travelling to London for meetings with Imperial College London, the Carbon Capture and Storage Association and the Department for Energy Security and Net Zero, and concluded with a visit to BP to learn about the Northern Endurance Partnership.

Building on our longstanding collaboration with research groups in India, it is our privilege to host the delegation and give them an opportunity to both understand our research capability and hear about the UK’s approach to implementing CCS. This visit marks the start of our new joint centre, a very exciting opportunity to deepen our collaboration and share knowledge on key aspects of CO₂ storage.

Dr Jonathan Pearce, head of CO₂ storage research, BGS.

The trip was organised by the UK/India Centre of Innovation in Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage, which is co-led by the CO₂ storage team at BGS and the National Centre of Excellence in Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (NCoE-CCUS) at the Indian Institute of Technology Bombay. It was sponsored by the British High Commission in Delhi. The delegation was led by Dr Neelima Alam of the Deptartment of Science and Technology in the Government of India.