The Secretary to the Department of Science and Technology (DST), laid the foundation stone for India’s first CO2-to-methanol pilot plant at Thermax Limited in Pune, Maharashtra.
Key points
- With a capacity of 1.4 tons per day (TPD), the plant marks a pioneering effort in carbon reduction and conversion technology.
- The project is being implemented under a Public-Private Partnership (PPP) between the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Delhi, and Thermax Limited.
- With an estimated cost of Rs 31 crore, the initiative is supported by the DST under the Union Ministry of Science and Technology.
- This project aligns with India’s commitment to the Panchamrit target presented by Prime Minister during COP 26, which focuses on reducing carbon emissions and achieving sustainable development goals.
- The collaboration between IIT Delhi and Thermax Limited will act as a living lab for CCU research, focusing on developing new catalysts and processes for converting captured CO2 into chemicals.
- This includes both pre-combustion and post-combustion carbon capture techniques, which aim to reduce CO2 emissions significantly.
About Methanol
- Methanol is a low carbon, hydrogen carrier fuel produced from high ash coal, agricultural residue, CO2 from thermal power plants and natural gas.
- It is the best pathway for meeting India’s commitment to COP 21.
- NITI Aayog’s ‘Methanol Economy’ programme is aimed at reducing India’s oil import bill, greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions, and converting coal reserves and municipal solid waste into methanol.
- Although slightly lower in energy content than petrol and diesel, methanol can replace both these fuels in the transport sector (road, rail and marine), energy sector (comprising DG sets, boilers, process heating modules, tractors and commercial vehicles) and retail cooking (replacing LPG [partially], kerosene and wood charcoal).
