Green tech breakthrough: NTPC pioneers India’s first CO₂ injection borewell; project to advance indigenous carbon capture and storage capability

NTPC Ltd has begun drilling India’s first-ever geological carbon dioxide (CO2) storage well at its Pakri Barwadih coal mine in Jharkhand, marking a significant milestone in the country’s carbon capture and storage efforts.The initiative, spearheaded by NTPC’s R&D arm-- the NTPC Energy Technology Research Alliance (NETRA)-- represents a crucial step in advancing India’s Carbon Capture, Utilization and Storage (CCUS) roadmap and its commitment to achieving net-zero emissions by 2070, the company said in a statement, PTI reported.“NTPC has marked an important milestone in the nation's clean energy transition by commencing drilling for the country's first-ever CO2 injection borewell at its Pakri Barwadih Coal Mine, Jharkhand,” the company said.The borewell, designed to reach a depth of around 1,200 metres, aims to gather vital geological and reservoir data to enable safe and efficient long-term CO2 storage. The process involves extensive core, methane, and water sampling, along with seismic monitoring and simulation studies to evaluate the rock formations’ capacity for permanent carbon sequestration.Describing the project as the first of its kind in India, NTPC said it forms an essential part of its broader CCUS programme, which seeks to develop indigenous carbon storage technologies for large-scale application across the power and industrial sectors.NTPC, India’s largest integrated power utility, currently contributes about one-fourth of the nation’s electricity needs. The company has an installed capacity of over 84 GW, with an additional 30.90 GW under construction — including 13.3 GW of renewable energy projects.Reaffirming its sustainability goals, NTPC said it aims to achieve 60 GW of renewable energy capacity by 2032, further reinforcing India’s progress toward its long-term net-zero objectives.