Opportunities in India for Carbon Capture and Storage as a form of climate change mitigation

Abstract

India is a nation with a rapidly growing economy, achieving an 8.5% GDP growth rate in 2006 and 9.2% in 2007. This rise in economic growth goes hand in hand with an increase in the country’s energy demand, which is currently met, as in many evolving economies, by fossil fuels. Coal is the dominant commercial fuel, accounting for almost 70% of the total energy consumption, but India still faces serious electricity shortfalls. Both the Stern Review and The International Energy Agency’s World Energy Outlook reports have listed Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) as a carbon mitigation strategy for India. It is unclear, if, how, or when, CCS will have a place within the Indian system.