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Biomethane produced from maize grown on peat emits more CO2 than natural gas

Author

Listed:
  • Chris D. Evans

    (UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology)

  • Rebecca L. Rowe

    (UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology)

  • Benjamin W. J. Freeman

    (UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology)

  • Jennifer M. Rhymes

    (UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology)

  • Alex Cumming

    (UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology)

  • Isobel L. Lloyd

    (University of Leeds)

  • Daniel Morton

    (UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology)

  • Jennifer L. Williamson

    (UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology)

  • Ross Morrison

    (UK Centre for Ecology and Hydrology)

Abstract

Cultivation of maize for biomethane production has expanded rapidly, including on drained peat soils. The resulting soil CO2 emissions at the point of feedstock production are largely overlooked when assessing biogas climate mitigation potential. On the basis of field-scale flux measurements, we calculate that soil CO2 emissions from biomethane feedstock production on drained peat exceed embodied emissions for an equivalent amount of natural gas by up to a factor of three.

Suggested Citation

  • Chris D. Evans & Rebecca L. Rowe & Benjamin W. J. Freeman & Jennifer M. Rhymes & Alex Cumming & Isobel L. Lloyd & Daniel Morton & Jennifer L. Williamson & Ross Morrison, 2024. "Biomethane produced from maize grown on peat emits more CO2 than natural gas," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 14(10), pages 1030-1032, October.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcli:v:14:y:2024:i:10:d:10.1038_s41558-024-02111-1
    DOI: 10.1038/s41558-024-02111-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kimberly M. Carlson & James S. Gerber & Nathaniel D. Mueller & Mario Herrero & Graham K. MacDonald & Kate A. Brauman & Petr Havlik & Christine S. O’Connell & Justin A. Johnson & Sassan Saatchi & Paul , 2017. "Greenhouse gas emissions intensity of global croplands," Nature Climate Change, Nature, vol. 7(1), pages 63-68, January.
    2. C. D. Evans & M. Peacock & A. J. Baird & R. R. E. Artz & A. Burden & N. Callaghan & P. J. Chapman & H. M. Cooper & M. Coyle & E. Craig & A. Cumming & S. Dixon & V. Gauci & R. P. Grayson & C. Helfter &, 2021. "Overriding water table control on managed peatland greenhouse gas emissions," Nature, Nature, vol. 593(7860), pages 548-552, May.
    3. J. Leifeld & L. Menichetti, 2018. "The underappreciated potential of peatlands in global climate change mitigation strategies," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 9(1), pages 1-7, December.
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