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Home » Bio-energy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)

Bio-energy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)

2000
Bio-energy facility with biomass processing and carbon capture technology in power engineering.

(generated image for illustration only)

A negative emissions technology that combines bioenergy production with carbon capture and storage. Biomass, which absorbs atmospheric CO2 as it grows, is combusted or processed to generate energy (electricity, heat, or biofuels). The resulting CO2 emissions from this process are then captured and permanently stored, typically in geological formations, resulting in a net removal of CO2 from the atmosphere.

BECCS is considered a cornerstone technology in many climate models that aim to limit global warming to 1.5°C or 2°C. Its potential to generate ‘negative emissions’ is critical for offsetting residual emissions from hard-to-abate sectors like aviation and agriculture. The process begins with the cultivation of biomass, such as fast-growing trees, switchgrass, or agricultural residues. As this biomass grows, it absorbs CO2 from the atmosphere through photosynthesis.

The harvested biomass is then transported to a facility where it is used as fuel. This can involve direct combustion in a power plant to generate electricity, gasification to produce syngas, or fermentation to create biofuels like ethanol. During these processes, a concentrated stream of CO2 is produced. This CO2 is then captured using standard carbon capture technologies (e.g., amine scrubbing), compressed, and transported for long-term geological sequestration.

Despite its theoretical potential, BECCS faces significant challenges and controversies. The primary concern is the scale of land required to grow the necessary biomass, which could compete with food production, drive deforestation, and negatively impact biodiversity. The sustainability of the entire supply chain, including emissions from fertilizers, harvesting, and transportation, must be carefully managed to ensure that the process is genuinely carbon-negative. Water consumption for irrigating energy crops is another major constraint in many regions.

UNESCO Nomenclature: 3322
– Power engineering

Type

Energy Generation Process

Disruption

Substantial

Usage

Niche/Specialized

Precursors

  • development of biomass power generation technology
  • advances in carbon capture technologies for fossil fuel plants
  • understanding of the global carbon cycle and photosynthesis
  • principles of geological sequestration
  • agricultural science for cultivating energy crops

Applications

  • ethanol production facilities that capture fermentation CO2 for storage (e.g., archer daniels midland facility in illinois)
  • biomass-fueled power plants retrofitted with carbon capture technology
  • integrated climate mitigation models used by the intergovernmental panel on climate change (IPCC)
  • production of carbon-negative hydrogen from biomass gasification with CCS

Patents:

NA

Potential Innovations Ideas

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Related to: BECCS, bio-energy, carbon capture and storage, negative emissions, biomass, climate mitigation, land use, net-zero, IPCC, biofuel.

Historical Context

Bio-energy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS)

1999
2000
2000
2000
2002
2010
2013
1998
1999-05-01
2000
2000
2000
2003
2010
2013-09-24

(if date is unknown or not relevant, e.g. "fluid mechanics", a rounded estimation of its notable emergence is provided)

Related Invention, Innovation & Technical Principles

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