INDIA’S CARBON CAPTURE & UTILIZATION NETWORK (CO2INDIA)
Carbon Neutrality: India’s path to ‘Net Zero’
Climate change due to excessive carbon dioxide (CO2) is the Most Serious Problem Mankind Has Ever Faced. Capture and then conversion of CO2 to useful materials and fuels are the best ways to tackle these challenges. There are several research groups working in India in the area of CO2 capture and utilization. However, most of these works are limited to quality publications only. To conduct and translate high-quality fundamental research to real-world processes and technologies, we formed this network of Indian faculty, scientists, postdocs, students, industry researchers etc. (more than 1000 members) working in CO2, energy and climate research.
CO2INDIA- Best PhD Thesis Award
The CO2 India network provides recognition to Indian Ph.D. students through an award program designed to acknowledge exemplary doctoral research that aligns with India's ambitious objective of self-reliance and a Net Zero CO2 future. This year, amongst many eligible applicants selected through a rigorous review process six applications were chosen for presentations at CEES 2023 (Sept 25-27th,2023, IIT Mandi). Finally, the judges chose 3 winners. These winners are awarded a cash prize of 25000 INR besides a prestigious medal and a well-deserved certificate.
Congratulations to all the winners!
ABOUT THE CO2INDIANETWORK
India’s CO2 Capture and Utilization Network (CO2India), aims to bring together Indian researchers from across the fields of science and engineering who are working on CO2 -related topics (capture and conversion). This network aims to also connect researchers with industrialists and policymakers so that the capture and utilization of carbon dioxide will become the preferred path to manufacture chemicals and fuels. This will help achieve Carbon Neutrality: India’s path to ‘Net Zero’.The key aims of this network are,Connect everyone in India (faculty, scientists, postdocs, students, industry researchers etc.) working in CO2 research,Organize meetings and conferences,Write joint project proposals (fundamental as well as applied research)Build a technology transfer center to commercialize the basic research finding’s in Indian labs (open to all concept) and develop indigenous technologies, a step towards AtmaNirbhar Bharat.
CO2INDIA BACKGROUND
CLIMATE CHANGE due to excessive carbon dioxide (CO2) is the “Most Serious Problem Mankind Has Ever Faced”. Climate change hits a giant weak spot in human history.
Disproportionate use (or misuse) of natural resources, including fossil fuels, created an extreme imbalance on planet earth and first priority of all of us to take on this challenge. An excessive amount of CO is the main cause of climate change, and hence, its reduction from the Earth’s atmosphere is key to stop further degradation of the environment. The best approach is not the capture of CO2 but rather its conversion to fuel, where CO2 can act as a carbon feedstock with zero cost. On the other hand, a sustainable way to solve the energy problem is to generate alternative energy sources such as renewal electricity by using solar cells or hydrogen by conducting photo- or electrocatalytic water splitting. However, issues pertaining to the storage of electricity and hydrogen gas have made it difficult for these technologies to be developed.
INDIA can no more be dependent on other countries for research and development and then import their technologies by paying a hefty price. For Atmanirbhar Bharat to succeed, we can not continue importing technologies and in the coming times, India needs CO2 Capture and Conversion Technologies. We must invest in fundamental research with translation goals, for technology development, which can only make India Atmanirbhar. We must “Invent-in-India” to be self-reliant.
Hence, there is an urgent need for Indian researchers and engineers to come together, form the network, for Fundamental Research with Translational Development in the Field of Climate Change, which can resolve the critical challenges of energy and the environment.
This network aims to collaborate and conduct high-quality fundamental and translational research in the field of CO2 capture-conversion to take on the issue of climate change. It aims to develop world-class technology, based on fundamental research, all indigenously carried out.
THE VISION OF CO2INDIA NETWORK
Dr. Homi J. Bhabha, one of the chief architects of Government of India's Scientific Policy Resolution (1958), said “The key to national prosperity, apart from the spirit of the people, lies in the modern age, in the effective combination of three factors: technology, raw material and capital of which the first is perhaps the most important, since the creation and adoption of new scientific techniques can, in fact, make up for a deficiency in natural resources, and reduce the demands on capital. But technology can only grow out of a study of science and its applications.”
Dr. Homi Bhabha built DAE and BARC and gave India Nuclear Power, the best example of Indigenous development and "Atmanirbhar Bharat". Now it's time to harvest Solar Power and CO2 for India’s growth. CO2India is the network of scientific excellence, where the study of science follows the holistic approach with cutting-edge research.
This vibrant network ( with a world-class incubation and technology transfer center) aim to combat climate change by developing indigenous CO2 capture and conversion technologies.
OUR GOALS
CO2 Capture and Utilization Network (CO2India) aims to bring together Indian researchers from across the fields of science and engineering who are working on (or interested in) CO2 research (capture, storage, and conversion). This network aims to connect researchers with industrialists and policymakers so that the capture and utilization of carbon dioxide will become the preferred path to manufacture chemicals and fuels.
This will help achieve Carbon Neutrality: India’s path to ‘Net Zero’. This network collaborates to conduct high-quality fundamental and translational research in the field of CO2 capture-conversion to take on the issue of climate change.
This network focus is on the below research topics,
Synthetic Chemistry (Nanomaterials, MOF, Organometallic complexes, Semiconductors, Plasmonic metals and so on)
CO2 Capture (Pre-combustion and post-combustion)
CO2 Conversion to Chemicals, Fuels, Cement etc using Catalysis (Thermal, Photo, Electro, etc.)
Theoretical/Computational Studies to Achieve In-depth insight in CO2 Capture and Conversion processes.
Spectroscopic Investigation of Reaction Mechanism of CO2 Capture and Conversion (Ultrafast Spectroscopy, Electron Microscopy, Solid-State NMR, Surface Spectroscopy etc.)
Incubation and Technology Transfer Centre (Reactor Engineering, Upscaling and Process Development)
The other important objectives of this network are,
1. Connect everyone in India (faculty, scientists, postdocs, students, industry researchers, policymakers etc.) who aims to contribute to CO2 research and development of indigenous CCU technologies.
2. Organize meetings and conferences on CO2 and climate change related topics.
3. Write joint project proposals (fundamental as well as applied research).
Technology Incubation Centre & Indian Institute of CO2 Capture and Utilization
The outcome of basic research must help in the development of commercial products and technology to help resolve societal challenges. In order to translate such potential into a reality, an independent Incubation and Technology Transfer Centre is a must, which can be used by any Indian researcher.
This will enormously benefit the CO2 research in the country and will also able to generate its revenue and become self-sufficient in a few decades. The policies for such a Centre will be based along with the more "open" consultancy and start-up guidelines to fulfill the “Invent-in-India” and “Make-in-India” dream.
This center will be the first step towards the ultimate goal of India’s independent research institute on “Indian Institute of CO2 Capture and Utilization,” encompassing fundamental research, applied science, engineering, upscaling & process development, intellectual property & business aspects, and finally, commercialization of the CCU process. All-in-one institute, the best way to tackle one of the biggest challenges of our times, “Climate Change,” and save humanity.
CORE MEMBERS
ADVISORY BOARD MEMBERS
(Arranged Alphabetically)
CONTACT US
Prof. Vivek Polshettiwar,
Department of Chemical Sciences (DCS),
Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR),
Homi Bhabha Road, Colaba, Mumbai 400005 INDIA
+91-22-22782792/2051