NTPC Limited and Indian Institute of Technology Bombay have achieved a significant milestone in India’s clean energy and decarbonisation journey by successfully completing the country’s first test well for Carbon Capture, Utilisation and Storage (CCUS).
The initiative represents a major breakthrough in academia–industry collaboration, focused on assessing the feasibility of geological CO₂ storage in sedimentary formations such as coal seams and sandstone. The achievement strengthens India’s efforts to develop indigenous CCUS capabilities as part of its long-term climate and net-zero commitments.
Project Overview
The collaboration between NTPC and IIT Bombay was launched in November 2022 under the aegis of NITI Aayog, Government of India. The project brought together NETRA, NTPC’s research and development wing, and the Department of Earth Sciences at IIT Bombay.
A key early outcome of the partnership was the creation of India’s first geological storage atlas for coalbed methane-rich coalfields. The atlas provided layer-wise simulation results using experimentally validated data to estimate the CO₂ storage potential across four major coalfields in the country.
First-Ever CCUS Test Drilling in India
Building on the atlas findings, NTPC and IIT Bombay initiated India’s first dedicated CCUS test drilling in September 2025. The well was drilled to a depth of 1,200 metres at Pakri Barwadih, near an active coal mining area in the North Karanpura coalfield, and was successfully completed on November 15, 2025.
A second well drilling was initiated on December 21, 2025, enabling both CO₂ injection and plume monitoring activities. These steps are critical for evaluating subsurface behaviour, storage integrity, and long-term safety of geological CO₂ sequestration.
Expert Perspectives and Policy Alignment
Commenting on the achievement, Dr. V.K. Saraswat, Member, NITI Aayog and Chairman of the Advisory Committee of the DST–National Centre of Excellence in CCUS at IIT Bombay, emphasised that indigenous science and technology development will be crucial for commercialising CCUS solutions. He highlighted the need for rigorous subsurface characterisation, conservative injection pressure limits, robust well design, and continuous monitoring of pressure and seismic activity.
Mr. Gurdeep Singh, Chairman and Managing Director, NTPC, described the success as an important step toward decarbonising India’s power sector. Prof. Shireesh Kedare, Director, IIT Bombay, highlighted the role of translational research in shaping India’s energy transition roadmap and advancing practical decarbonisation solutions.
From Research to Field Deployment
Project lead Prof. Vikram Vishal noted that the initiative marks a shift from laboratory research to real-world field deployment. The project will deliver feasibility and risk assessments for a future full-scale carbon capture and storage development, including storage complex analysis and a commercial deployment plan.
Preliminary studies indicate high geological CO₂ storage potential in the North Karanpura coalfield, with the Pakri Barwadih block alone showing potential to inject up to 15.5 million tonnes of CO₂ over a 10-year period.
Building on a Decade of CCUS Collaboration
The NTPC–IIT Bombay partnership in CCUS dates back to 2017, when both institutions collaborated on India’s first CO₂ capture and utilisation facility in the power sector. That effort led to the establishment of the Vindhyachal CCU plant, which captures 20 tonnes of CO₂ per day and converts it into fuel-grade methane.
India’s CCUS programme is now being advanced through a mission-mode approach, with the Ministry of Power as the nodal agency, supported by inter-ministerial coordination to scale CCUS deployment across hard-to-abate sectors.
Industry Outlook
As India works toward its net-zero targets under the Panchamrit climate commitments, CCUS is expected to play a critical role in reducing emissions from coal-based power generation and industrial processes. Experts at the Prime Minister’s Science, Technology & Innovation Advisory Council have underscored the need for strong policy frameworks, institutional mechanisms, and accelerated adoption of CCUS technologies.
The successful completion of India’s first CCUS test well represents a foundational step in building domestic capabilities for large-scale carbon management and long-term emissions reduction.
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