Marginal Cost of Carbon Sequestration Using Straw-Based Biochar in Great Britain
Yuzhou Tang, Paul Wilson, Tim T Cockerill
TL;DR
This study estimates the cost of using straw-based biochar in Great Britain to help meet the UK's net-zero carbon goals.
Contribution
The paper introduces a spatial model integrated with life cycle and economic analysis to estimate marginal carbon sequestration costs for straw-based biochar in GB.
Findings
Straw-based biochar in GB can achieve 0.6–1.9% of the UK’s 2050 carbon removal target at marginal costs below £75 per tCO2e.
Including higher-cost options increases potential removal to 0.8–2.1% of the target.
Feedstock price, byproduct value, and biochar yield significantly influence marginal costs.
Abstract
Achieving the net-zero target of the United Kingdom requires substantial greenhouse gas removal (GGR) in addition to emission reductions. Biochar, a stable carbon-rich material produced through biomass pyrolysis, is an established GGR method. Straw is abundantly available in the UK and presents a viable option for large-scale biochar production. However, uncertainties regarding its feasibility remain, particularly concerning costs, spatial constraints, and facility construction. Here, we use a spatial model integrated with life cycle assessment and technoeconomic analysis to estimate the marginal cost curve for net carbon sequestration through straw-based biochar production in Great Britain (GB). Our findings reveal that straw-based biochar production in GB can achieve 0.6–1.9% of the UK’s 2050 carbon removal target at marginal costs below £75 per tCO2e. If higher-cost options are also…
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Taxonomy
TopicsThermochemical Biomass Conversion Processes · Carbon Dioxide Capture Technologies · Environmental Impact and Sustainability