BECCS

Biomass is a renewable energy source. It takes up as much CO₂  as it emits when converted to produce energy.  It therefore is a (nearly) CO₂ neutral energy source. If however, the formed CO₂ during biomass conversion is stored instead of emitted, the concept is called BECCS: BioEnergy Carbon Capture and Storage.  BECCS opens the options to reduce the CO₂–concentration in the atmosphere, whereas CO₂ –neutral energy “only” prevents the CO₂–concentration to increase.

BECCS is an interesting concept because it goes beyond CO₂–neutral, but it also may be the cheapest way to reduce CO₂ reduction. In for example the production of Substitute Natural Gas from biomass (BioSNG or Green Gas), CO₂ separation is part of the process in order to meet the Natural Gas grid specifications. This is an almost pure CO₂ flow that is available for storage (after compression). The additional costs for CO₂–storage are therefore low. Much lower than the costs to separate and store CO₂ from e.g. a coal-fired power plant.

A BioSNG plant roughly produces equal volumes of CO₂ and methane (bioSNG). BECCS in this case therefore may double the CO₂ reduction of a bioSNG plant! The picture below shows the CO₂–balance of a BioSNG plant assuming 30% CO₂ emissions for biomass cultivation, transport, and treatment. It shows 170% CO₂–reduction compared to fossil natural gas.

More information:

Michiel Carbo
T: +31 224564792
E: carbo@ecn.nl