Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage

Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage
Name	Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage
Classification	Climate mitigation technology
Related	Carbon capture and storage, Biomass energy, Negative emissions

Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage is a negative emissions approach combining biomass combustion or conversion with geologic carbon storage to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. It links technologies and programs developed by institutions such as Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change, International Energy Agency, United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change, European Commission, and companies like Shell plc, BP plc, and Equinor ASA to deliver managed carbon removal at scale. Proponents highlight connections to policy frameworks including the Paris Agreement, the Kyoto Protocol, and national strategies from United Kingdom, United States, Canada, and Australia.

Introduction

The concept emerged from research communities including Imperial College London, Massachusetts Institute of Technology, University of Cambridge, Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, and Pacific Northwest National Laboratory that examined interactions among renewable energy, fossil fuel transition strategies, and climate change modeling. Early modeling in reports by IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5 °C and IEA World Energy Outlook framed BECCS alongside afforestation efforts promoted by organizations such as Food and Agriculture Organization and UN Environment Programme. Political interest accelerated after high-level events like the G20 Summit and policy instruments including the European Green Deal and the Inflation Reduction Act.

Technology and Process

The technological chain involves biomass production, conversion pathways (combustion, gasification, fermentation), carbon capture systems (post-combustion, pre-combustion, oxy-fuel), and geological storage in formations characterized by institutions such as United States Geological Survey, Norwegian Petroleum Directorate, and Geological Survey of Canada. Research draws on engineering groups at General Electric, Siemens Energy, Carbon Clean, and Drax Group for capture equipment, while storage pilots consult operators like Equinor ASA, TotalEnergies SE, and Chevron Corporation. Monitoring, verification and accounting protocols reference standards from International Organization for Standardization and guidance from Global CCS Institute and IPCC.

Feedstocks and Biomass Supply

Feedstock sourcing spans agricultural residues supplied from regions associated with United States Department of Agriculture and Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, forestry residues from areas monitored by Canadian Forest Service and Swedish Forest Agency, energy crops advanced by CIMMYT and International Rice Research Institute, and waste streams coordinated with entities like Waste Management, Inc. and Veolia Environment S.A.. Supply-chain analyses engage trade partners such as China, India, Brazil, Russia, and Indonesia and use data from Food and Agriculture Organization and World Bank to assess logistics, land-use change, and sustainability standards overseen by Roundtable on Sustainable Biomaterials and International Sustainability and Carbon Certification.

Carbon Accounting and Climate Impacts

Life-cycle assessment and carbon accounting rely on methodologies from IPCC, ISO, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, and research groups at Stanford University, Princeton University, and University of Oxford. Models such as those used by IIASA and Potsdam Institute for Climate Impact Research evaluate net removals, permanence, leakage risks, and interaction with carbon markets like European Union Emissions Trading System and voluntary registries including Verra and Gold Standard. Debates involve economists from World Bank, International Monetary Fund, and policy scholars from Harvard Kennedy School on metrics, discounting, and integration with nationally determined contributions under the UNFCCC.

Economic and Policy Considerations

Investment and incentives intersect with fiscal instruments exemplified by the U.S. 45Q tax credit, the UK Carbon Capture and Storage Infrastructure Fund, and EU funding through Horizon Europe. Project finance often involves corporations such as BP plc, TotalEnergies SE, Shell plc, and development banks like European Investment Bank and Asian Development Bank. Policy design engages ministries including the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, U.S. Department of Energy, and regulators like Environmental Protection Agency and European Commission DG CLIMA to align permitting, liability, and market rules.

Environmental and Social Impacts

Environmental assessments draw contributions from United Nations Environment Programme, World Wildlife Fund, Greenpeace International, and academic teams at Cornell University and University of California, Berkeley concerning biodiversity, water use, soil health, and food security impacts in regions such as Sub-Saharan Africa, Southeast Asia, Amazon Basin, and Midwestern United States. Social implications attract engagement from civil society organizations including Friends of the Earth, labor groups like International Trade Union Confederation, and indigenous rights advocates connected to cases reviewed by Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and national courts.

Deployment, Demonstration Projects, and Case Studies

Pilot and demonstration efforts include projects backed by Drax Group in United Kingdom, the Illinois Industrial CCS Project in United States with partners like ADM and Summit Carbon Solutions, the Norwegian Longship project involving Equinor ASA and Northern Lights, and experimental studies at facilities associated with NET Power and LanzaTech. International collaborations feature partnerships among European Union, Norway, Canada, and Japan and case studies assessed by IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Programme and Global CCS Institute.

Category:Climate change mitigation