This collaboration aims to capture carbon dioxide (CO₂) emissions from biogas plants and convert them into useful biofuels and chemicals. The project was officially launched with the signing of Memorandums of Understanding (MoUs) between ORSL and the two IITs, according to a statement.
At the core of the project is an anaerobic digester that processes Napier grass to produce biogas. The CO₂ generated is not released but instead purified and directed through two innovative pathways. At IIT Bombay, it is used for growing algae that produce bio-oils and health supplements. Meanwhile, at IIT Kharagpur, it is converted into green alcohols—building blocks for jet fuel—using photocatalysts under mild, ambient conditions.
Prof. Indrajit from IIT Bombay said that the collaboration with ORSL offered a real-world platform to validate and scale their work on algal photobioreactors. He added that with high oil yields and phytochemical recovery, they were not just sequestering carbon but transforming it into valuable resources. Prof. Koustuv Ray from IIT Kharagpur stated that their system uses natural light and gentle conditions to turn waste CO₂ into clean alcohol fuels, and that the partnership enables field deployment.
According to ORSL, the platform offers a circular, zero-waste solution by capturing CO₂, producing bio-CNG and high-value chemicals, and utilising the leftover material as biofertilizer. “We’re proud to pioneer this next-gen carbon recycling system,” said Dr. Manju D. Tanwar, ORSL’s Chief Scientist. “Together with IIT Bombay and IIT Kharagpur, we are demonstrating how India can turn biogenic CO₂ into clean fuels and contribute to climate goals.”
This initiative supports India’s Net Zero 2070 target and the Atmanirbhar Bharat mission for self-reliance in clean energy and green technologies.
