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The climate change mitigation potential of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage

Author

Listed:
  • S. V. Hanssen

    (Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University)

  • V. Daioglou

    (PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
    Utrecht University)

  • Z. J. N. Steinmann

    (Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University
    Wageningen University and Research)

  • J. C. Doelman

    (PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency)

  • D. P. Vuuren

    (PBL Netherlands Environmental Assessment Agency
    Utrecht University)

  • M. A. J. Huijbregts

    (Institute for Water and Wetland Research, Radboud University)

Abstract

Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) can act as a negative emission technology and is considered crucial in many climate change mitigation pathways that limit global warming to 1.5–2 °C; however, the negative emission potential of BECCS has not been rigorously assessed. Here we perform a global spatially explicit analysis of life-cycle GHG emissions for lignocellulosic crop-based BECCS. We show that negative emissions greatly depend on biomass cultivation location, treatment of original vegetation, the final energy carrier produced and the evaluation period considered. We find a global potential of 28 EJ per year for electricity with negative emissions, sequestering 2.5 GtCO2 per year when accounting emissions over 30 years, which increases to 220 EJ per year and 40 GtCO2 per year over 80 years. We show that BECCS sequestration projected in IPCC SR1.5 °C pathways can be approached biophysically; however, considering its potentially very large land requirements, we suggest substantially limited and earlier deployment.

Suggested Citation

  • S. V. Hanssen & V. Daioglou & Z. J. N. Steinmann & J. C. Doelman & D. P. Vuuren & M. A. J. Huijbregts, 2020. "The climate change mitigation potential of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 10(11), pages 1023-1029, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:10:y:2020:i:11:d:10.1038_s41558-020-0885-y
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-020-0885-y
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    Cited by:

    1. Aljoša Slameršak & Giorgos Kallis & Daniel W. O’Neill, 2022. "Energy requirements and carbon emissions for a low-carbon energy transition," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.
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    5. Dhamu, Vikas & Mengqi, Xiao & Qureshi, M Fahed & Yin, Zhenyuan & Jana, Amiya K. & Linga, Praveen, 2024. "Evaluating CO2 hydrate kinetics in multi-layered sediments using experimental and machine learning approach: Applicable to CO2 sequestration," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 290(C).
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    12. Jiaxin Zhou & Wei Li & Philippe Ciais & Thomas Gasser & Jingmeng Wang & Zhao Li & Lei Zhu & Mengjie Han & Jiaying He & Minxuan Sun & Li Liu & Xiaomeng Huang, 2025. "Contributions of countries without a carbon neutrality target to limit global warming," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 16(1), pages 1-9, December.
    13. Zhao Li & Philippe Ciais & Jonathon S. Wright & Yong Wang & Shu Liu & Jingmeng Wang & Laurent Z. X. Li & Hui Lu & Xiaomeng Huang & Lei Zhu & Daniel S. Goll & Wei Li, 2023. "Increased precipitation over land due to climate feedback of large-scale bioenergy cultivation," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-9, December.
    14. Wolf André, 2024. "Auf dem Weg zum CO2-Binnenmarkt: Vorrang für Negativemissionen," Wirtschaftsdienst, Sciendo, vol. 104(5), pages 310-313, May.
    15. Kate Dooley & Kirstine Lund Christiansen & Jens Friis Lund & Wim Carton & Alister Self, 2024. "Over-reliance on land for carbon dioxide removal in net-zero climate pledges," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 15(1), pages 1-10, December.
    16. Diana Carolina Guío-Pérez & Guillermo Martinez Castilla & David Pallarès & Henrik Thunman & Filip Johnsson, 2023. "Thermochemical Energy Storage with Integrated District Heat Production–A Case Study of Sweden," Energies, MDPI, vol. 16(3), pages 1-26, January.
    17. Fan, Jing-Li & Li, Zezheng & Li, Kai & Zhang, Xian, 2022. "Modelling plant-level abatement costs and effects of incentive policies for coal-fired power generation retrofitted with CCUS," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 165(C).
    18. Emma A. R. Zuiderveen & Koen J. J. Kuipers & Carla Caldeira & Steef V. Hanssen & Mitchell K. Hulst & Melinda M. J. Jonge & Anestis Vlysidis & Rosalie Zelm & Serenella Sala & Mark A. J. Huijbregts, 2023. "The potential of emerging bio-based products to reduce environmental impacts," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-7, December.
    19. Fan, Jing-Li & Li, Zezheng & Ding, Zixia & Li, Kai & Zhang, Xian, 2023. "Investment decisions on carbon capture utilization and storage retrofit of Chinese coal-fired power plants based on real option and source-sink matching models," Energy Economics, Elsevier, vol. 126(C).
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    21. Andreas Mayer & Gerald Kalt & Lisa Kaufmann & Elin Röös & Adrian Muller & Rainer Weisshaidinger & Anita Frehner & Nicolas Roux & Pete Smith & Michaela C. Theurl & Sarah Matej & Karlheinz Erb, 2022. "Impacts of Scaling up Agroecology on the Sustainability of European Agriculture in 2050," EuroChoices, The Agricultural Economics Society, vol. 21(3), pages 27-36, December.
    22. Maurício Roberto Cherubin & João Luís Nunes Carvalho & Carlos Eduardo Pellegrino Cerri & Luiz Augusto Horta Nogueira & Glaucia Mendes Souza & Heitor Cantarella, 2021. "Land Use and Management Effects on Sustainable Sugarcane-Derived Bioenergy," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(1), pages 1-24, January.
    23. Ángel Galán-Martín & Daniel Vázquez & Selene Cobo & Niall Dowell & José Antonio Caballero & Gonzalo Guillén-Gosálbez, 2021. "Delaying carbon dioxide removal in the European Union puts climate targets at risk," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 12(1), pages 1-12, December.
    24. Robert J. Brecha & Gaurav Ganti & Robin D. Lamboll & Zebedee Nicholls & Bill Hare & Jared Lewis & Malte Meinshausen & Michiel Schaeffer & Christopher J. Smith & Matthew J. Gidden, 2022. "Institutional decarbonization scenarios evaluated against the Paris Agreement 1.5 °C goal," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-11, December.
    25. Pietzcker, Robert C. & Osorio, Sebastian & Rodrigues, Renato, 2021. "Tightening EU ETS targets in line with the European Green Deal: Impacts on the decarbonization of the EU power sector," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).

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