The world’s race toward net-zero emissions is no longer defined only by renewable energy or electrification. In 2025, attention is turning to the next crucial piece of the climate puzzle: carbon capture, utilization, and storage (CCUS).
As nations strive to decarbonize hard-to-abate industries and balance economic growth with sustainability, carbon capture technologies are emerging as a practical solution that complements renewable energy and battery storage systems.
Decarbonization refers to the process of reducing carbon dioxide emissions across industries, energy systems, and economies. For years, the focus has been on cleaner generation through solar, wind, and hydrogen. Yet, some industries, such as steel, cement, and chemicals, cannot eliminate emissions entirely through renewables alone.
That is where carbon capture technologies play a defining role. They capture CO₂ at its source, such as factories, refineries, or power plants, and either reuse it or store it safely underground.
According to the International Energy Agency (IEA), global carbon capture capacity could reach nearly 400 million tonnes annually by 2030, a fourfold increase from current levels.
The message is clear: decarbonization will not be achieved through renewables alone. CCUS and carbon removal solutions are now the critical third leg of the net-zero strategy.
At its core, carbon capture, utilization, and storage involves three main stages.
Recent advances are making these systems more affordable. Modular capture units, improved absorbents, and digital monitoring are lowering costs and improving reliability.
New players in India, the United States, and Europe are exploring direct air capture and bioenergy with carbon capture (BECCS), technologies that could enable negative emissions.
The Global Market Outlook
Globally, the CCUS market is expanding faster than expected. The World Economic Forum (WEF) projects a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of nearly 12% between 2025 and 2030, as industrial hubs and energy firms invest in decarbonization infrastructure.
Regions such as North America and Europe continue to lead due to policy incentives, while Asia-Pacific, particularly India, Japan, and South Korea, is rapidly scaling up pilot and demonstration projects.
From oil majors integrating capture into refineries to start-ups using CO₂ to make sustainable fuels, carbon capture technologies are transforming the definition of clean energy.
India’s industrial sector accounts for nearly 30% of the country's national CO₂ emissions, making industrial decarbonization a top policy priority in India.
The government is actively exploring CCUS as part of its decarbonization strategy, supported by the Ministry of Petroleum and Natural Gas and the Ministry of New and Renewable Energy (MNRE).
A national roadmap released in 2025 outlines plans for carbon capture clusters around refineries, cement plants, and steel hubs. This includes partnerships between Indian industries and global technology providers to scale up the deployment of carbon capture.
Several companies, including Indian Oil Corporation (IOCL) and Larsen & Toubro (L&T), have announced investments in pilot carbon capture technologies to decarbonize ammonia and petrochemical production. Meanwhile, India’s financial sector is also beginning to recognize green finance and decarbonization as interlinked opportunities and has started supporting feasible studies through sustainability-linked loans.
Together, these actions reflect India’s broader vision of combining renewable energy, battery storage, and CCUS to meet its 2070 net-zero target.
The global push for decarbonization is reshaping industries and also redefining careers. Organizations are seeking professionals who understand how to balance profitability with sustainability.
Professionals equipped with expertise in carbon management, sustainability leadership, and energy transition strategy are becoming highly valuable across both public and private sectors.
For mid-career leaders, upskilling in carbon capture technologies, industrial decarbonization, and green finance can open pathways to senior sustainability and strategy roles.
For businesses, carbon capture is not just about meeting environmental regulations; it is about building long-term resilience. CCUS provides a way to maintain industrial output while reducing emissions and compliance costs. In addition, carbon utilization creates new revenue streams through the production of sustainable fuels, aggregates, and industrial chemicals.
According to the World Economic Forum, CCUS has the potential to reduce up to six percent of global CO₂ emissions by 2050, if deployed alongside renewables and energy efficiency measures.
In India, early movers are also positioned to benefit from the emerging carbon credit markets and voluntary offset mechanisms that reward verified carbon reduction projects.
The PG Executive Program in Net Zero Strategy and Sustainability Leadership, offered by IIM Kashipur in collaboration with evACAD, prepares professionals to lead in this era of climate transformation.
The curriculum combines management strategy with technical insights into energy transitions, green finance, and carbon management. It helps participants understand not just how to reduce emissions but how to design scalable decarbonization strategies across complex organizations as well.
This program bridges the gap between technical know-how and executive decision-making, a critical advantage in the emerging green economy.
Decarbonization is no longer an optional initiative; it is a long-term business necessity.
Carbon capture, utilization, and storage is rapidly becoming the defining enabler for industries to achieve net-zero emissions while maintaining competitiveness.
Professionals who master both the science of carbon capture and the strategy of sustainability leadership will be the ones shaping India’s clean-energy transformation. This IIM Kashipur + evACAD program empowers these future leaders with the frameworks and networks needed to drive the change to a sustainable future.
The future of industrial development will be defined not only by how we produce and use power but also by how effectively we capture and manage carbon. As global and Indian industries transition to cleaner models, the ability to design, finance, and lead decarbonization strategies will become the ultimate leadership differentiator.
If you are ready to step into that role, equip yourself with the knowledge, vision, and leadership capability today to shape a sustainable, carbon-resilient future.
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