CO₂-removal News

Buffi et al. (2024): Energy and GHG emissions assessment for biochar-enhanced advanced biofuels value chains

M. Buffi, O. Hurtig, M. Prussi, N. Scarlat, D. Chiaramonti IN: Energy Conversion and Management, 309, 118450, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enconman.2024.118450

The present study proposes an innovative approach, where carbon sequestration through biochar is obtained through the integration of slow pyrolysis with fast pyrolysis in decentralised biorefining systems, and then converted producing drop-in fuels from pyrolysis oil hydrotreating or gasification and Fischer-Tropsch (FT) synthesis. The scope is either to achieve negative GHG emissions assigned to advanced biofuels, or to export the generated carbon credit for the carbon markets (i.e. outside the biofuels carbon intensity). The innovative concept entails process integration and optimisation for the different stages of biomass drying, conversion and upgrading into biofuels in a way to reduce fossil-based inputs, applying a full value chain approach. Methodological choices for the assumptions on life cycle emissions calculation are discussed, evaluating the environmental performances by comparing the new concept to traditional biofuels value chains. Using a tailored lifecycle accounting methodology, this paper demonstrates that high GHG emissions savings can be achieved. 

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Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) 2024-2044: Technologies, Players, Carbon Credit Markets, and Forecasts

Eve Pope, ITTechEx Research, April 2024

This report provides a comprehensive outlook of the emerging CDR industry and carbon credit markets, with an in-depth analysis of the technological, economic, regulatory, and environmental aspects that are shaping this market. In it, IDTechEx focuses on technologies that actively draw CO₂ from the atmosphere and sequester it into carbon sinks, namely: Direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS), Biomass with carbon removal and storage (BiCRS) including approaches such as BECCS (bioenergy with carbon capture and storage), biochar, biomass burial, and bio-oil underground injection, Land-based CDR methods, i.e. afforestation and reforestation and soil carbon sequestration techniques, Mineralization NETs that enhance natural mineral processes and Ocean-based CDR methods.

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Iyer & Smith (2024): Impact of cement composition, brine concentration, diffusion rate, reaction rate and boundary condition on self-sealing predictions for cement-CO2 systems

Jaisree Iyer, Megan M. Smith IN: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, 134, 104126, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2024.104126

Here the authors examine the sensitivity of our model, describing CO2 leakage through wellbores, to cement composition, brine concentration, diffusion rates, and reaction rates. They also evaluate the impact of the boundary condition to allow comparisons between observations from experiments performed at constant flow rate and model predictions made at constant pressure conditions. The results show that diffusion and reactions rates have the most impact on the self-sealing criteria for cement-CO2 systems. 

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Yang et al. (2024): Sequestration of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in coastal ecosystems: Quantification, analysis, and planning

Dingding Yang, Yujia Qin, Yuanrui Xu, Kexin Xing, Yujie Chen, Xiaoping Jia, Kathleen B. Aviso, Raymond R. Tan , Bohong Wang IN: Sustainable Production and Consumption, 47, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.spc.2024.04.012

In this study, the Carbon Emission Pinch Analysis (CEPA) approach was applied to develop a method of comparing strategies for maximising CO2 sequestration while minimising the economic cost. The proposed method replaces the emission factors and carbon emissions in CEPA with the economic cost and carbon sequestration amount to better suit the objectives of this study. The proposed method was applied to a case study on the coastal areas of Hainan Island in China.

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Tiwari et al. (2024): Emerging bio-capture strategies for greenhouse gas reduction: Navigating challenges towards carbon neutrality

Tanmay Tiwari, Gun Anit Kaur, Pravin Kumar Singh, Sapna Balayan, Anshuman Mishra, Ashutosh Tiwari IN: Science of The Total Environment, 929, 172433, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.172433

This review emphasizes the recent advancements in bio-capture techniques, showcasing them as dependable and economical solutions for carbon neutrality. The article briefly outlines various bio-capture methods and underscores their potential for industrial application. Moreover, it investigates into the challenges faced when integrating bio-capture with carbon capture and storage technology. The study concludes by exploring the recent trends and prospective enhancements in ecosystem revitalization and industrial decarbonization through green conversion techniques, reinforcing the path towards carbon neutrality.

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Removals are better than some reductions – The case of electrofuels for aviation

by Robert Höglund on Marginal Carbon, April 22, 2024

„In this post, we compare the costs of sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) with the cost of the combination of continued use of fossil jet fuel (BAU) with Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS) to remove the carbon emitted in burning the fossil jet fuel. We analyze electrofuels, a form of synthetic jet fuel made with hydrogen and captured CO₂ from the atmosphere, and also compare the cost to various biofuels. „

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The Landscape of Carbon Dioxide Removal and US Policies to Scale Solutions

Whitney Jones, Galen Bower, Nathan Pastorek, Ben King, John Larsen, Trevor Houser, Naveen Dasari, Kelly McCusker, Rhodium Group, April 20, 2024

In this report, the authors survey the current and vast landscape of different CDR approaches in the US, informed by the latest peer-reviewed literature, dozens of expert interviews, and new analysis. They also assess the current state of policy support and additional policy options to help CDR scale to the level required for mid-century decarbonization in the US.

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AlDossary et al. (2024): Design of Biochar Based Adsorber (Bio-Sorb) for Direct Carbon Capture

Nouf AlDossary, Fatimah AlKhowildi, Jory Mayoof, Kawthar AlHajji; Mukarram Zubair, Ismail Anil IN: International Petroleum Technology Conference, https://doi.org/10.2523/IPTC-24550-EA

The aim of this work is to investigate the potential of biochar derived from Saudi Arabia’s agricultural waste for CO2 capture. The biochar-CO2 adsorber (bio-sorb) system is designed and tested for direct carbon capture for sustainable mitigation of climate change. The CO2 adsorber design results demonstrated that in order to achieve maximum CO2 adsorption the most appropriate design parameter are gas flowrate (100 mL/min) and, biochar particle size (0.35 mm), and temperature (25°C). 

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Chapter: Carbon Balance in Educational Institutions: Greenhouse Gases Emission and Carbon Removal Inventory

Lauana Blenda Silva, Thaís de Almeida Rocha, Thaynara Pereira Albuquerque, Valéria de Fatima Silva, Mariany Filipini de Freitas, Laércio Antônio Gonçalves Jacovine IN: The Contribution of Universities Towards Education for Sustainable Development, 2024, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-49853-4_20

The aim of this study is to present a proposal for standardizing guidelines to allow educational institutions to prepare their GHG inventory, and if necessary, to neutralize their GHG emissions. The work was based on theoretical information about the GHG inventory elaboration methodologies and practical experiences lived by the authors. The main contribution was a guide for the management of GHG emissions, in addition to showing what is done at the EI, especially at the Federal University of Viçosa (UFV), through the “Carbono Zero UFV” Program.

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Schmitz & Kraft (2024): Pilot scale photobioreactor system for land-based macroalgae cultivation

Tonia Annick Schmitz, Eckhard Kraft IN: Journal of Applied Phycology, https://doi.org/10.1007/s10811-021-02617-7

The aim was to develop a closed photobioreactor system enabling full control of abiotic environmental parameters and an effective reconditioning of the cultivation medium in order to produce marine macroalgae at sites distant from the shore. To assess the feasibility and functionality of the chosen technological concept, a prototypal plant has been implemented in central Germany – a site distant from the sea. Using a newly developed, submersible LED light source, cultivation experiments with Ulva intestinalis led to growth rates of 7.72 ± 0.04 % day−1 in a cultivation cycle of 28 days.

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