The National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) has partnered with TraceXero Technologies Private Limited to develop advanced Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU) technologies aimed at reducing emissions in the cement sector—one of the most carbon-intensive industries globally.
Key Highlights Of Partnership
- Focus on development, technical validation, and commercialisation of carbon capture technologies
- Combines:
- NCB’s research and technical expertise
- TraceXero’s innovation in industrial decarbonisation
- Targets the cement and construction materials sector
Why Cement Industry is a “Hard-to-Abate” Sector
- Contributes ~7% of global CO₂ emissions
- Emissions arise not only from energy use but also from chemical processes in cement production
- These process emissions are difficult to eliminate, making decarbonisation challenging
Hence, CCU is seen as a key pathway for achieving Net Zero targets in this sector.
Innovative Technology by TraceXero
TraceXero has developed a proprietary solvent-based carbon capture process:
Working Mechanism:
- Captures CO₂ from industrial emissions
- Converts it into graphitic carbon
- Further processed into graphene
Value Creation:
- Graphene is used in:
- Electronics
- Energy storage
- Advanced composites
This transforms CO₂ (waste) into a high-value product, combining:
- Environmental sustainability
- Industrial profitability
Role of NCB
The National Council for Cement and Building Materials (NCB) will provide:
- Technical expertise
- Research support
- Testing and validation infrastructure
- Access to laboratories and pilot facilities
Ensures the technology is industry-ready and scalable
Startup–Research Ecosystem
- TraceXero is a start-up incubated at NCB
- Collaboration helps:
- Bridge gap between lab innovation and industrial deployment
- Accelerate commercial adoption of new technologies
Reflects India’s push for innovation-driven industrial sustainability
Significance of Collaboration
1. Environmental Impact
- Reduces carbon emissions in a major polluting sector
- Supports Net Zero targets
2. Economic Impact
- Converts emissions into valuable materials (graphene)
- Enhances industrial competitiveness
3. Strategic Importance
- Strengthens India’s indigenous clean technology ecosystem
- Promotes startup–research collaboration
About NCB
| Feature | Details |
| Type | Apex R&D organisation |
| Ministry | Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT), Ministry of Commerce & Industry |
| Role | Research, testing, and technical support for cement & construction sector |
Carbon Capture and Utilisation (CCU)
What is CCU?
- Technology that captures CO₂ emissions and converts them into:
- Fuels
- Chemicals
- Building materials
Unlike CCS (Carbon Capture & Storage), CCU uses CO₂ economically instead of storing it.
Importance for India
- India is the 3rd largest CO₂ emitter globally
- Key emitting sectors:
- Cement
- Steel
- Power
- Chemicals
CCU is crucial for decarbonising hard-to-abate industries
Government Initiatives
- ₹20,000 crore allocation in Union Budget 2026–27 for CCUS
- R&D roadmap by Department of Science & Technology
- CCUS roadmap by Ministry of Petroleum & Natural Gas
Challenges
- High cost and energy intensity
- Lack of infrastructure (CO₂ transport, storage)
- Policy and standardisation gaps
Global Context
- EU promotes CCU under Circular Economy Action Plan
- USA uses tax incentives for CCUS deployment
- UAE developing CO₂-to-chemicals hubs