What is Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) ? What is the potential role of CCUS in tackling climate change? (Answer in 150 words)

- What is Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) ? What is the potential role of CCUS in tackling climate change? (Answer in 150 words)
Introduction
Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) strips CO2 from industrial flue gases, converts part into products and stores the rest underground. NITI Aayog's 2022 CCUS policy framework ties it to India's net-zero-by-2070 pledge at COP26, Glasgow.
Body
1. Process and Components:
- Capture: amine scrubbing or oxy-fuel separation from flue gas.
- Utilization: synthetic fuels, urea, concrete curing and enhanced oil recovery, which ONGC plans at Gujarat's Gandhar field.
- Storage: depleted fields, saline aquifers and India's Deccan basalt traps, where CO2 mineralises permanently.
2. Role in Tackling Climate Change:
- Abates the unabatable: steel, cement and fertiliser cannot electrify process emissions.
- Proven at scale: Sleipner (Norway, 1996) and Boundary Dam (Canada, 2014) store CO2 commercially.
- Negative emissions: combined with bioenergy, BECCS removes CO2 already emitted.
Conclusion
CCUS is a transition technology, not a substitute for renewables: high capture cost and storage liability keep it dependent on carbon pricing.