Silver bullet or bitter pill? Reassessing the scope of CO2 capture and storage in India

India has voluntarily declared her efforts of reducing its GHG intensity by 33-35% by 2030 over 2005 levels towards global carbon dioxide (CO2) mitigation. This paper tries to put into perspective the need for carbon capture and storage (CCS) in India’s energy sector, specific to coal. It tries to make the argument that the policymakers must not solely depend on fairly new technologies like power generation via solar, without taking care of the existing coalfired power plants. Thus, putting forward the opportunities for CCS supported by necessary literature is undertaken as the principal task for this paper. The potential for CCS is discussed in terms of relevant capture and storage techniques in a technological and cost-based standpoint. Some of the considerations that can facilitate the deployment of CCS in various sectors pertaining to the industry are discussed. The paper also presents the need for discussing technologies such as direct air capture (DAC) in the Indian context. The review also presents a substantive view for CCS prospects in India, by reviewing its environmental and operational issues. Finally, it deliberates the need for an integrated approach for CCS technology and calls for the need of making more realistic policy framework.