image: Distribution of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage potential. view more
Credit: Data from USGS and US Department of Energy.
Researchers assess the near-term deployment potential of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) in the United States. BECCS is a negative-emissions technology that captures and sequesters carbon dioxide (CO2) that might have applications in climate change mitigation. However, the suitability of CO2 storage sites and availability of transportation for biomass or CO2 could hinder near-term BECCS deployment. Ejeong Baik and colleagues used estimates of biomass production potential and CO2 storage and injection rate capacities to assess the deployment potential of BECCS in 2020 and 2040 in the United States. Using high spatial resolution analyses, the authors found that approximately 30% of the projected available biomass in 2020 is likely to be located within the proximity of a CO2 storage site and available for near-term BECCS. Considering storage and injection rate capacity limitations, the authors report that BECCS has the potential to provide an estimated 100-110 megatonnes (Mt) CO2 yr-1 of negative emissions by 2020. Under similar constraints, the study indicates that BECCS has a negative emissions potential of up to 360-630 Mt CO2 yr-1 by 2040. According to the authors, the Illinois basin, Gulf region, and western North Dakota have the greatest potential for near-term BECCS deployment.
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Article #17-20338: "Geospatial analysis of near-term potential for carbon-negative bioenergy in the United States," by Ejeong Baik et al.
MEDIA CONTACT: Ejeong Baik, Stanford University, CA; tel: 413-835-5165; e-mail: <ebaik@stanford.edu>
Journal
Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences