A recent study performed by Ecofys, an international energy consultancy firm indicates that mixing of biomass with carbon dioxide capture and storage (CCS) could result in high annual savings of around 10 GT of carbon dioxide discharges in the year 2050.
The news has come as a relief during a time when the worldwide annual carbon dioxide discharge levels have reached 31 GT in 2010. Ecofys has performed this study on behalf of IEA Greenhouse Gas R&D Program.
According to Joris Koornneef from Ecofys, the use of biomass in biofuel manufacture or generation of electricity and subsequently storing the carbon dioxide generated from the sources is known as Bio-CCS, which causes a negative greenhouse gas balance. He explained that during the process the biomass draws out carbon dioxide from the atmosphere in the photosynthesis process and the Bio-CCS captures the carbon dioxide during the energy generation process, thus ensuring negative greenhouse gas balance. He added that limited availability of biomass in certain regions may cause concern in the process implementation but world over sufficient level of biomass is available to achieve planned negative emission levels.
Ecofys in its report has recognized six possible technological courses in transport and power segments such as biomass change over to bio-ethanol, biodiesel and biomass burning and gasification for power generation. It has identified that after taking all the negative aspects into consideration the power sector can achieve around 10 GT of negative carbon emissions and the transport sector can achieve 6 GT of negative carbon emission levels. It considers bio-ethanol manufacturing as a profitable option because it seizes carbon dioxide at comparatively lesser cost.
Source: http://www.ecofys.com/