Demonstrating the Value of Carbon Capture and Storage/Utilisation (CCS/CCU) for Net Zero and the UK’s Industrial Strategy

Impact: Technological, Environmental, Policy

Narrative

Achieving ‘net-zero’ is dependent on reducing energy emissions. Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is the leading technology targeted by many countries as a mechanism for providing energy with net negative emissions, whilst providing a decarbonisation option for hard-to-abate carbon-intensive industries. The negative emissions concept of BECCS is based on the principle that: atmospheric CO2 is absorbed during the growth cycles of biomass; if the CO2 produced during the combustion of the biomass to generate energy is captured and stored indefinitely; net removal of CO2 from the atmosphere can be achieve. Large scale deployment of BECCS technologies will require sustainable and extensive biomass supply chains.
This project created a BECCS feasibility model that allows assessment of the viability of large scale BECCS deployment in the UK and provide industry with bespoke options to decarbonise their activities. The models provide tools to i) assess the potential availability of different types of biomass resource both with the UK and within given radii of a potential BECCS facility; ii) identify potential supply chains using existing road/rail/maritime/pipeline infrastructure; iii) identify the optimal biomass supply and CO2 storage routes based on both cost and emission analyses, and iv) map the full sustainability of BECCS technology and supply chain options, to ensure compliance and to identify both the potential sustainability benefits and risks to better inform BECCS deployment decisions.
The project team have worked closely with UK Government Departments and the devolved administrations to inform their bioenergy and BECCS strategies. Also working closely with a series of stakeholder from leading energy generation and energy demand industries to provide bespoke BECCS deployment options.
Category of impactTechnological, Environmental, Policy

Research Beacons, Institutes and Platforms

  • Energy
  • Manchester Environmental Research Institute
  • Sustainable Futures

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