Domestic and international CO2 source-sink matching for decarbonizing India's electricity.

• We model CO 2 source-sink matching for decarbonizing India's electricity. • Domestic and Middle East CO 2 storage sites are explored for optimized matching. • International matching with enhanced oil recovery enhances economic feasibility. • CO 2 shipping could expand the potential of CCUS in India's climate mitigation. India is the third largest CO 2 emitter in the world and the ascending trend has not shown clear signs of leveling off. Electricity generation is the most important contributing sector. This paper examines the role of CO 2 capture, utilization and storage (CCUS) in decarbonizing India's electricity. We build a source-sink matching optimization model and unlike previous research, include transport by ship to overseas CO 2 storage sites. We initialize the model with open-source data on power sector emissions and sinks to work out the least-cost solutions for achieving various CO 2 matching scenarios. CO 2 can be captured in fossil-fuel-fired power plants in India, while the utilization and storage could be either within or beyond the country's border. We assess the potential chain of shipping CO 2 to the Middle East for enhanced oil recovery and CO 2 storage. The economics of such international CCUS chains may affect the role of CCUS in India's decarbonization scenarios. We provide first order estimates of costs and conditions to make such a proposition attractive. The model is available with an open-source license and is customizable to include additional sources, onshore and overseas sinks, and shipping terminals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]