Near-term deployment of carbon capture and sequestration from biorefineries in the United States

• Published in: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences - PNAS Vol. 115; no. 19; pp. 4875 - 4880
• Main Authors: Sanchez, Daniel L., Johnson, Nils, McCoy, Sean T., Turner, Peter A., Mach, Katharine J.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States National Academy of Sciences 08-05-2018; Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences
• Subjects: 09 BIOMASS FUELS; Agglomeration; Biodiesel fuels; bioenergy; Biofuels; Biomass; Biorefineries; carbon capture; Carbon dioxide; Carbon dioxide emissions; Carbon dioxide removal; Carbon sequestration; Climate change; Climate change mitigation; climate policy; Emissions control; Energy - Biomass; Energy - Conversion; energy systems; Environmental policy; Ethanol; Feasibility studies; Fermentation; Geosciences; Incentives; Life cycle analysis; Life cycle assessment; Life cycle engineering; Optimization; Physical Sciences; Process engineering; Refineries; Refining; Science & Technology - Other Topics; Source-sink relationships; Taxation; Transport; United States > US; bioenergy; energy systems; carbon capture; climate policy; carbon dioxide removal
• ISSN: 0027-8424; 1091-6490
• DOI: 10.1073/pnas.1719695115

Capture and permanent geologic sequestration of biogenic CO₂ emissions may provide critical flexibility in ambitious climate change mitigation. However, most bioenergy with carbon capture and sequestration (BECCS) technologies are technically immature or commercially unavailable. Here, we evaluate low-cost, commercially ready CO₂ capture opportunities for existing ethanol biorefineries in the United States. The analysis combines process engineering, spatial optimization, and lifecycle assessment to consider the technical, economic, and institutional feasibility of near-term carbon capture and sequestration (CCS). Our modeling framework evaluates least cost source–sink relationships and aggregation opportunities for pipeline transport, which can cost-effectively transport small CO₂ volumes to suitable sequestration sites; 216 existing US biorefineries emit 45 Mt CO₂ annually from fermentation, of which 60% could be captured and compressed for pipeline transport for under $25/tCO₂. A sequestration credit, analogous to existing CCS tax credits, of $60/tCO₂ could incent 30 Mt of sequestration and 6,900 km of pipeline infrastructure across the United States. Similarly, a carbon abatement credit, analogous to existing tradeable CO₂ credits, of $90/tCO₂ can incent 38 Mt of abatement. Aggregation of CO₂ sources enables cost-effective long-distance pipeline transport to distant sequestration sites. Financial incentives under the low-carbon fuel standard in California and recent revisions to existing federal tax credits suggest a substantial near-term opportunity to permanently sequester biogenic CO₂. This financial opportunity could catalyze the growth of carbon capture, transport, and sequestration; improve the lifecycle impacts of conventional biofuels; support development of carbon-negative fuels; and help fulfill the mandates of low-carbon fuel policies across the United States.