¦CARBON
HOW TO PROFITABLY CREATE CARBON-NEGATIVE ENERGY FROM BIOMASS Combining complementary technologies can enable a profitable transition to a low-carbon economy. BY PAUL STEVERS
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major opportunity has emerged to generate reliable power while capturing and sequestering carbon dioxide (CO2) from the atmosphere, and it can be implemented on a global scale. This is now possible due to advances in four key technology areas that can be combined into one larger system: biomass or fossil fuel power generation with carbon capture, direct air capture (DAC), energy storage and renewable energy. Together, these technologies can provide reliable power to the electrical grid while generating substantial negative carbon emissions. In addition to scaling up renewable energy, this will help the hydrocarbon-based energy sector transition to and participate in a low-carbon economy. If implemented around the world, this approach could reduce carbon emissions by billions of tons per year, while creating major economic opportunities.
Utilizing biomass for power generation enables an even greater negative carbon emissions than when using fossil fuels, since biomass is already carbon neutral. Additionally, while generating energy via biomass, another valuable product can be produced: biochar. Several commercial-scale systems are now available that can produce both energy and biochar at the same time. Biochar is produced by heating the biomass in an oxygen-limited environment using some of the energy released from this biomass. After this biochar is produced, it has many uses, including significantly increasing the productivity of soil for growing food. Since producing biochar from biomass and incorporating it into soil is an internationally recognized way of removing carbon from the atmosphere, substantial money can be earned by creating this biochar. Even more
beneficial than creating biochar is combining it with nutrients and utilizing it in soil. For example, a 2019 study found that biochar combined with compost increased average crop yield significantly—by 40% compared with the control, which was compost without biochar. Many companies have committed to net zero targets over the next few decades. For instance, over 200 companies have committed to net zero by 2040, and 21% of 2,000 of the world’s largest public companies, representing sales of nearly $14 trillion, now have committed to net zero by 2050. These companies will need to purchase carbon emission credits to meet their respective commitments. Because of this, demand for these credits can be expected to grow rapidly, which can generate significant revenues for companies implementing these combined power systems with carbon capture and storage (CCS). Substantial
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34 BIOMASS MAGAZINE | ISSUE 2, 2022
