India has taken a significant step towards advancing its net-zero ambitions with the launch of seven India–Sweden collaborative projects designed to decarbonise the country’s steel and cement sectors. The initiatives bring together leading Indian companies and Swedish technology innovators to develop low-carbon pathways for two of the nation’s most energy-intensive and high-emitting industries.
Heavy industry currently accounts for around one-quarter of global greenhouse gas emissions and consumes nearly one-third of the world’s energy. In India, the iron and steel sector contributes 10–12 per cent of national carbon emissions, while cement production accounts for almost 6 per cent. As the country moves towards its net-zero target for 2070, transforming these hard-to-abate sectors is critical for sustainable industrial growth and long-term climate resilience.
The seven projects have been selected to undertake pre-pilot feasibility studies under the LeadIT (Leadership Group for Industry Transition) partnership, supported by funding from India’s Department of Science and Technology and the Swedish Energy Agency.
Per Andersson, Head of the LeadIT Secretariat, welcomed the new collaborations, emphasising their potential to inspire wider industrial transformation. He noted that the close match between Swedish and Indian organisations — backed by strong institutional support — demonstrates a modern model for international industrial partnerships.
The seven projects driving industrial decarbonisation
- Tata Steel, Cemvision, IIT-ISM Dhanbad, JK Cement: This project aims to recover metallic value from steel slag and turn industrial by-products into supplementary cementitious material (SCM), creating circular industrial symbiosis.
- Tata Steel, IIT Hyderabad, GREEN14: A microwave plasma-assisted CO₂-conversion study: Focuses on converting blast furnace off-gas CO₂ into carbon monoxide, enabling reinjection as a reducing agent in steel production.
- IIT Bombay, Ambuja Cements Ltd, EcoTech Solutions: Integrated carbon capture and utilisation (CCU) feasibility: Examines the potential for establishing a CCU unit within a cement manufacturing facility.
- Ecometrix AM, Prism Johnson, Datta Meghe College of Engineering: AI-powered optimisation: Studies the feasibility of ACORN, an AI platform for optimising concrete mix designs to reduce climate impact in the ready-mix concrete industry.
- Kanthal, Swerim, Jindal Steel and Power: Electric heating for CO₂-neutral steel production: Assesses electric gas-heating concepts using hydrogen and other process gases to minimise or eliminate CO₂ emissions in ironmaking.
- Metsol AB, Höganäs AB, Hoganas India Ltd, IIT Bhubaneswar: Electrified green ironmaking: Evaluates a pilot plant based on hydrogen-powered, electrically heated rotary kiln technology for fossil-free iron production.
- Captimise AB (Andritz Group), My Home Industries Pvt. Ltd. (Maha Cement): Decarbonising cement manufacturing with carbon capture: Screens amine absorption, hot potassium carbonate, and membrane-based carbon-capture technologies.
These India–Sweden industrial collaborations represent a decisive push towards green steel, low-carbon cement, and cleaner manufacturing technologies, reinforcing India’s commitment to a climate-secure, net-zero future.
