Carbon sequestration through micro-algae technology in Odisha

Already having a distinction of the first Indian state to implement the Climate Change Action Plan, Odisha has now added another feather to its cap as the first state to pilot carbon sequestration through micro-algae technology successfully with encouraging results.
This has been applauded at an international seminar on Carbon Sequestration held here today. The micro-algae biotechnology helps in capturing the carbon from flue gas of power plants very substantially and generates algae biomass which can be put to further industrial use.
Inaugurating an international seminar on Carbon Sequestration, Odisha Chief Secretary G C Pati suggested to develop a network approach among the national and international laboratories to carry on further studies about various use of algae biomass.

Pati also directed Odisha's Forest and Environment department to draft a policy for upscaling use of the technology in power plants and utilisation of algae biomass under climate change action plan.
Development Commissioner U N Behera said that this technology is highly beneficial to curtail the present rate of carbon emission to a large extent and government will support such initiatives in all possible manner.
Presenting the details of the pilot project, Sidhant Das, Principal Conservator of Forests who spearheaded the project as the then member of the Odisha Pollution Control Board, said that this project has been piloted and demonstrated in the captive thermal power plant of NALCO at Angul.

Das further added that algae biomass generated through this technology has the potential to be used as bio-gas, bio-diesel, bio-oil, alcohol, fertilizer, and protein for animal feed. It can also be used as additional fuel for power plants along with coal.

CMD NALCO Ansuman Das said that NALCO is committed to take up all initiatives for reduction of carbon emission from power plants since NALCO has one captive power plant at Angul.
The project has been conceptualised, commissioned and completed within a record time of two years and four months with the investment of Rs 94 lakhs under the joint aegis of state Pollution Control Board, NALCO and Indocan Technology Solutions.

Prof Ranjan Pradhan while participating in the seminar presented technical details and the methodologies involved in the process of the application of micro-algae technology for capturing the carbon.
International scholars working on micro-algae technology produced their research papers in the seminar.