EUBCE 2024 - Susan Caroline ALVARADO CUMMINGS - Attributional and Consequential GHG Life Cycle Assessment of Bioenergy -Supply Chains with Carbon Capture Storage

Attributional and Consequential GHG Life Cycle Assessment of Bioenergy -Supply Chains with Carbon Capture Storage

Short Introductive summary

This document focuses on the estimation of GHG emissions in operational Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) supply chains. It addresses research gaps by evaluating GHG emissions during the transition from a coal-biomass power plant to a BECCS plant, utilizing wood pellets and bagasse pellets as feedstocks. Moreover, it explores ’what-if’ scenarios for feedstocks and supply chain configurations, considering dynamic emissions over time. The study not only aligns with the EU Renewable Energy Directive III but also includes estimations of captured and emitted emissions from bio-waste feedstocks. Additionally, it incorporates consequential assessments and calculates carbon parity times, representing the duration for scenarios to achieve carbon neutrality . Preliminary findings indicate the feasibility of large-scale BECCS negative emissions, with the quantity depending on the supply chain configuration. Bagasse BECCS outperforms wood BECCS. This research sheds light on the underdiscussed carbon trade-offs and can inform EU and national policy decisions for upcoming Negative Emission Technologies legislation.

S.C. Alvarado Cummings, Utrecht University, THE NETHERLANDS
A.S. Duden, Utrecht University, THE NETHERLANDS
H.M. Junginger, Utrecht University, THE NETHERLANDS
F. van der Hilst, Utrecht University, THE NETHERLANDS