Research Impact Statement:

India is a rapidly developing economy that necessitates sustained manufacturing activities to address the pressing issue of global warming. Despite the push for renewable energy, researchers predict that our reliance on fossil fuels will persist for several decades before a sustainable energy transition can be achieved. Consequently, transforming carbon-intensive industries into net-zero emission clusters poses a significant challenge. Currently, the most feasible solution to initiate this transformation is the deployment of large-scale carbon capture and sequestration strategies. This project bridges a critical gap in existing CCS technologies, which often suffer from high energy penalties and limited scalability. The research explores next-generation solvent formulations with enhanced absorption capacities and thermal stability, alongside a novel sequestration approach that utilizes CO2 gas hydrates in marine sediments to store captured CO₂ safely and for the long term. The integration of these two complementary methods is aimed at creating an economically and environmentally sustainable CCS pathway. 

One of the research focuses of Yogendra is to develop microgelated amine-based solvents (Chemogel) to tackle the current challenges with amine-based solvents. The laboratory demonstration has achieved a 15-20% increase in molar absorption and a 10-15% reduction in energy consumption during regeneration, enabling us to produce more with less. The minimal additional cost of 3-5% for amine functionalization is a worthwhile investment, as it allows us to create a more efficient and sustainable solution that can be shared with more industries especially, carbon intensive processes such as steel, power and cement. The developed solvent has high temperature operability, low volatility, lower pH and improved regeneration and recyclability. Moreover, the high-temperature operability of the chemogel solvent reduces the need for cooling, making the most of existing energy sources and minimizing waste, which translates into high profitability. By leveraging this technology, industries can generate greater value in minimum energy, while using fewer resources and promoting a more equitable distribution of benefits. This research has attracted attention from clean energy companies interested in pilot-scale testing. Results have been shared with policy advisors working on India’s climate action roadmap, contributing to the formulation of more aggressive CCS targets in national environmental strategies. Optimization studies for the CO2 capture pilot plant are currently underway, and there is growing interest from companies seeking scalable units to integrate into their operations. 

The other research objective of Yogendra, is sequestering CO₂ in subsea sediments in the form of gas hydrates—a potential long-term storage solution. Through lab-scale experiments, technical viability of this approach was demonstrated, published multiple studies on hydrate formation, stability, and sediment interactions. While these results are promising, scaling beyond controlled lab environments remains a critical next step. In academic terms, these works have led to multiple publications in high-impact journals and collaborations with international researchers. Looking ahead, the research holds potential for regional scaling, especially in coastal areas with gas hydrate reservoirs. Further development may include field trials and integration into carbon trading frameworks, offering a viable pathway for developing countries to meet decarbonisation goals.