BGS hosts Indian delegation for ‘deep dive’ on CCS
Top Indian scientists visit British Geological Survey to explore UK’s carbon capture and storage research potential
THE British Geological Survey (BGS) hosted an Indian delegation of experts from 14–18 July to 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, utilization and storage (CCUS) includes a suite of technologies that aim to reduce atmospheric carbon dioxide emissions associated with large industrial sources such as 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 BGS to explore research outcomes in CO2 storage 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.
Indian delegation leader Dr Neelima Alam from the Department of Science and Technology, Government of India, said: ‘It’s been highly exciting and insightful to visit and interact with the premier groups involved in CO2 storage, capture and utilization research at BGS, Heriot-Watt University, and Imperial College during this deep-dive visit, organized 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.
‘I really appreciate and thank BGS for the excellent co-ordination and for organizing the meetings for the delegation across UK to explore the possibility of collaborations under the Indo-UK Net Zero Innovation Partnership.’
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.
Dr Jonathan Pearce, head of CO2 storage research at BGS, said: ‘Building on our longstanding collaboration with research groups in India, it was 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 marked the start of our new joint centre, a very exciting opportunity to deepen our collaboration and share knowledge on key aspects of CO2 storage.’
Sponsored by the British High Commission in Delhi, the trip was organized 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.
