Life cycle assessment of co-firing biomass at coal-fired power plants with carbon capture and storage toward net-zero emissions

Wu, Wanying; Zhai, Haibo

doi:10.1016/j.ijggc.2026.104653

Life cycle assessment of co-firing biomass at coal-fired power plants with carbon capture and storage toward net-zero emissions

Journal Article · Tue Mar 31 00:00:00 EDT 2026 · International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ijggc.2026.104653· OSTI ID:3028144

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University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY (United States)
University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY (United States); Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA (United States)

Co-firing biomass with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) offers a technological option to decarbonize coal-fired power plants toward net-zero emissions. This study estimates the life cycle emissions of co-firing biomass at coal-fired power plants with CCS and quantifies its variability and uncertainty. Deployment of co-firing BECCS at coal-fired power plants can significantly reduce the life cycle emissions toward the net-zero target but lower the power plant performance, which vary with numerous factors, including coal type, biomass type, co-firing level, and CO₂ capture rate. The breakeven co-firing levels required for biomass at coal-fired power plants with 90 % CO₂ capture to reach net-zero emissions fall with a range roughly from 15 % to 25 % on an energy basis, depending on coal and biomass types. Increasing the CO₂ capture rate from 90 % to 95 % can lower the breakeven co-firing levels by about 5 to 8 percentage points for the biomass resources of interest, which can lower reliance on biomass resources and facilitate large-scale deployment of co-firing BECCS in fossil-rich regions but with limited biomass resources. Furthermore, findings improve the understanding of the techno-environmental performance of co-firing BECCS and inform strategic planning decisions on net-zero emissions in the coal-fired power sector.

View Accepted Manuscript (DOE)

Research Organization:: University of Wyoming, Laramie, WY (United States)

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE Office of Fossil Energy and Carbon Management (FECM)

Grant/Contract Number:: FE0032193

OSTI ID:: 3028144

Journal Information:: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control, Journal Name: International Journal of Greenhouse Gas Control Vol. 153; ISSN 1750-5836

Publisher:: ElsevierCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: United States

Language:: English

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