IIT-Bombay, NTPC Lead India’s First Underground Carbon Dioxide Storage Drilling Project
Mumbai: In a significant advancement for India’s clean energy and climate action initiatives, the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT) Bombay and the National Thermal Power Corporation (NTPC) have successfully completed the drilling of the country’s first geological well in Jharkhand. This project aims to assess the feasibility of underground carbon dioxide (CO2) storage, a crucial step in the fight against climate change.
Overview of the Project
The drilling project, which began in September 2025, involved the excavation of a well in Hazaribagh, reaching depths of up to 1,200 meters. This well is strategically located near a coal mining area, which is significant for potential CO2 storage. Following the completion of the first well, a second well drilling commenced on December 21, 2025. This second well is intended to monitor and study the behavior of injected CO2 and ensure its containment using multiple monitoring techniques.
Collaboration and Support
The collaboration between NTPC and IIT-Bombay was facilitated by NITI Aayog in November 2022. This partnership brought together NETRA, the research and development wing of NTPC, and the Department of Earth Sciences at IIT-Bombay to create India’s first geological storage atlas for coalbed methane-rich coalfields. This initiative marks a significant step towards developing indigenous, large-scale solutions for reducing carbon emissions in alignment with India’s net-zero commitments.
Importance of Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS)
The successful completion of this drilling project is a landmark achievement in academia-industry collaboration in Carbon Capture, Utilisation, and Storage (CCUS). It positions India closer to achieving its net-zero targets by developing effective methods for carbon management. Professor Vikram Vishal, the project lead from IIT-Bombay, emphasized the importance of this initiative, stating that India produces approximately 2.95 billion tons of CO2 annually, with nearly one-third of this coming from the power sector.
Challenges in Reducing CO2 Emissions
As India strives towards its net-zero ambitions, certain industrial sectors will continue to emit CO2 due to the nature of their processes. While renewable energy sources, hydrogen, and other clean technologies are essential for reducing emissions, they cannot entirely eliminate process-related CO2 emissions. Therefore, capturing carbon is a critical part of the solution.
Geological Storage as a Solution
Professor Vishal noted that the conversion of captured CO2 into useful chemicals is limited by market demand and scale. With the volumes of CO2 that India is likely to manage, ranging from hundreds of millions to nearly a billion tonnes, geological storage becomes an unavoidable necessity. Storing CO2 deep underground is essential for industries and the country to meet their net-zero targets effectively.
Potential Storage Capacity
Preliminary studies conducted as part of this project indicate a significant storage potential in the North Karanpura coalfield. Specifically, the Pakri-Barwadih block is estimated to have the capacity to accommodate up to 15.5 million tonnes of CO2 over a 10-year injection period. This finding underscores the feasibility of large-scale CO2 storage solutions in India.
Future Directions
Ongoing studies will explore the potential for drilling additional wells in various regions, including the Mumbai High area. The project aims to generate detailed feasibility and risk assessments for full-scale carbon capture and storage (CCS) development, which will include a comprehensive commercial deployment plan.
Significance for India’s Energy Transition
Professor Shireesh Kedare, Director of IIT-Bombay, highlighted the importance of translational research and development in shaping the roadmap for India’s energy transition and decarbonization efforts. This project not only contributes to the scientific understanding of CO2 storage but also plays a vital role in the broader context of climate action in India.
Conclusion
The successful drilling of the first geological well for CO2 storage in India represents a pivotal moment in the country’s journey towards sustainable energy solutions. As the nation grapples with the challenges of climate change and strives to meet its net-zero commitments, initiatives like this will be crucial in developing effective strategies for carbon management and emissions reduction.
Note: The information presented in this article is based on the latest developments in the field of carbon capture and storage as of December 2025.
