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Afforesting arid land with renewable electricity and desalination to mitigate climate change

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  • Upeksha Caldera

    (LUT University)

  • Christian Breyer

    (LUT University)

Abstract

Afforestation is one of the most practised carbon dioxide removal methods but is constrained by the availability of suitable land and sufficient water resources. In this research, existing concepts of low-cost renewable electricity (RE) and seawater desalination are built upon to identify the global CO2 sequestration potential if RE-powered desalination plants were used to irrigate forests on arid land over the period 2030–2100. Results indicate a cumulative CO2 sequestration potential of 730 GtCO2 during the period. Global average cost is estimated to be €457 per tCO2 in 2030 but decrease to €100 per tCO2 by 2100, driven by the decreasing cost of RE and increasing CO2 sequestration rates of the forests. Regions closer to the coast with abundant solar resources and cooler climate experience the least costs, with costs as low as €50 per tCO2 by 2070. The results suggest a key role for afforestation projects irrigated with RE-based desalination within the climate change mitigation portfolio, which is currently based on bioenergy carbon capture and storage, and direct air carbon capture and storage plants.

Suggested Citation

  • Upeksha Caldera & Christian Breyer, 2023. "Afforesting arid land with renewable electricity and desalination to mitigate climate change," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 6(5), pages 526-538, May.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natsus:v:6:y:2023:i:5:d:10.1038_s41893-022-01056-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41893-022-01056-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. ElSayed, Mai & Aghahosseini, Arman & Caldera, Upeksha & Breyer, Christian, 2023. "Analysing the techno-economic impact of e-fuels and e-chemicals production for exports and carbon dioxide removal on the energy system of sunbelt countries – Case of Egypt," Applied Energy, Elsevier, vol. 343(C).
    2. Keiner, Dominik & Gulagi, Ashish & Breyer, Christian, 2023. "Energy demand estimation using a pre-processing macro-economic modelling tool for 21st century transition analyses," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 272(C).
    3. Liu, Yang & Zhao, Xiaomeng & Dong, Kangyin & Jiang, Qingzhe, 2023. "Assessing the role of green finance in sustainable energy investments by power utilities: Evidence from China," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 84(C).

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