NTPC-IITB (IIT Bombay) has achieved a key milestone by completing India’s first test well for deep geological CO2 storage at Pakri Barwadih in Jharkhand. This advances Carbon Capture, Utilization, and Storage (CCUS) technologies, which are critical to India’s decarbonization and net-zero ambitions under the Panchamrit goals.
Project Collaboration
Initiated in November 2022 under NITI Aayog guidance, the partnership unites NTPC’s NETRA R&D arm with IIT Bombay’s Department of Earth Sciences. Teams produced India’s inaugural geological storage atlas, mapping CO2 potential in four methane-rich coalfields via layer-by-layer simulations and experimental validation.
Drilling Operations
Drilling commenced in September 2025, reaching 1,200 metres and concluding on November 15; a second well started December 21 for CO2 injection and plume monitoring. Early assessments highlight the North Karanpura coalfield’s capacity, with Pakri Barwadih alone able to sequester 15.5 million tonnes over 10 years.
Leadership Insights
Dr. V.K. Saraswat of NITI Aayog emphasized indigenous CCUS commercialization, stressing monitoring of injection pressures, well integrity, and seismic risks. NTPC CMD Gurdeep Singh and IIT Bombay Director Prof. Shireesh Kedare hailed the progress in energy transition, while project lead Prof. Vikram Vishal noted the lab-to-field shift.
Roadmap
Next phases include feasibility studies, risk evaluations, and a commercial plan for scaled storage, propelled by the Ministry of Power in mission mode. This builds on prior NTPC-IIT Bombay efforts, like the Vindhyachal CCU plant capturing 20 tonnes of CO2 daily for fuel conversion.
