Research Projects

India's energy needs are expected to quadruple in the next three to five decades, coinciding with its net zero pathway. To achieve energy independence, India plans to take up coal gasification 100 million tons by 2030. The IIT Delhi-Thermax consortium has demonstrated India-centric gasification of high-ash coal at 6 TPD scale and convert it to 1 TPD methanol. The capture of residual CO2 and/or CO2 generated during this process can reduce the overall carbon footprint of the plant. However, large scale deployment of Clean Coal Unit (CCU) technology, particularly in a country with limited resources and a large MSME base, is challenging and prohibitive. The proposal aims to capture and convert CO2 generated in the existing plant into more methanol, showcasing the CCU technology platform and providing the pathway to net-zero. The conversion of CO2 to methanol will use H2 generated from a water electrolyser, providing a path for generation of H2. A preliminary design for CO2 capture and conversion from a commercial scale plant for the two routes of coal gasification and combustion in various existing and emerging sectors will be prepared.