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

Abstract

Capture and permanent geologic sequestration of biogenic CO₂emissions 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 CO₂capture 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 CO₂volumes to suitable sequestration sites; 216 existing US biorefineries emit 45 Mt CO₂annually 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/tCO₂could 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 CO₂credits, of $90/tCO₂can incent 38 Mt of abatement. Aggregation of CO₂sources 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 tomore » 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.« less

Authors:

Sanchez, Daniel L.  ^[1];

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Johnson, Nils ^[2]; McCoy, Sean T. ^[3]; Turner, Peter A. ^[1]; Mach, Katharine J. ^[4]

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+ Show Author Affiliations

1. Department of Global Ecology, Carnegie Institution for Science, Stanford, CA 94305,
2. Energy Program, International Institute for Applied Systems Analysis, A-2361 Laxenburg, Austria,
3. Global Security E-Program, Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory, Livermore, CA 94550,, Department of Engineering and Public Policy, Carnegie Mellon University, Pittsburgh, PA 15253,
4. Department of Earth System Science, Stanford University, Stanford, CA 94305

Publication Date:

Mon Apr 23 00:00:00 EDT 2018

Research Org.:

Lawrence Livermore National Laboratory (LLNL), Livermore, CA (United States)

Sponsoring Org.:

USDOE Office of Fossil Energy (FE); David and Lucile Packard Foundation; The Alexander von Humboldt Foundation; USDOE National Nuclear Security Administration (NNSA)

OSTI Identifier:

1434361

Alternate Identifier(s):

OSTI ID: 1625009; OSTI ID: 1809174

Report Number(s):

LLNL-JRNL-741276
Journal ID: ISSN 0027-8424

Grant/Contract Number:  

LLNL-17-FEW0228; AC52-07NA27344

Resource Type:

Published Article

Journal Name:

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America

Additional Journal Information:

Journal Name: Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America Journal Volume: 115 Journal Issue: 19; Journal ID: ISSN 0027-8424

Publisher:

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences

Country of Publication:

United States

Language:

English

Subject:

Science & Technology - Other Topics; carbon dioxide removal; bioenergy; climate policy; carbon capture; energy systems; 09 BIOMASS FUELS; Energy - Conversion; Geosciences; Energy - Biomass