Enhancing natural cycles in agro-ecosystems to boost plant carbon capture and soil storage

Abstract One of society’s greatest challenges is sequestering vast amounts of carbon to avoid dangerous climate change without driving competition for land and resources. Here we assess the potential of an integrated approach based on enhancement of natural biogeochemical cycles in agro-ecosystems that stimulate carbon capture and storage while increasing resilience and long-term productivity. The method integrates plant photosynthesis in the form of (cover) crops and agroforestry which drives carbon capture. Belowground plant-carbon is efficiently stored as stable soil organic carbon (SOC). Aboveground crop and tree residues are pyrolyzed into biochar, which is applied to the soil reducing carbon release through decomposition. Enhanced weathering of basalt powder worked into the soil further captures and stores carbon, while releasing nutrients and alkalinity. The integrated system is regenerative, through enhanced virtuous cycles that lead to improved plant capture, biomass storage and crop yield, the prerequisites for large-scale carbon sequestration along with food security.

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Enhancing Natural Cycles in Agro-Ecosystems to Boost Plant Carbon Capture and Soil Storage

10.20944/preprints202012.0397.v1 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Wolfram Buss ◽

Kirsty Yeates ◽

Eelco Rohling ◽

Justin Borevitz

Keyword(s):

Cover Crops ◽

Carbon Capture ◽

Large Scale ◽

Carbon Capture And Storage ◽

Integrated Approach ◽

Integrated System ◽

Biomass Storage ◽

Carbon Release ◽

Plant Photosynthesis ◽

Dangerous Climate Change

One of society’s greatest challenges is sequestering vast amounts of carbon to avoid dangerous climate change without driving competition for land and resources. Here we assess the potential of an integrated approach based on enhancement of natural biogeochemical cycles in agro-ecosystems that stimulate carbon capture and storage while increasing resilience and long-term productivity. The method integrates plant photosynthesis in the form of (cover) crops and agroforestry which drives carbon capture. Belowground plant-carbon is efficiently stored as stable soil organic carbon (SOC). Aboveground crop and tree residues are pyrolyzed into biochar, which is applied to the soil reducing carbon release through decomposition. Enhanced weathering of basalt powder worked into the soil further captures and stores carbon, while releasing nutrients and alkalinity. The integrated system is regenerative, through enhanced virtuous cycles that lead to improved plant capture, biomass storage and crop yield, the prerequisites for large-scale carbon sequestration along with food security.

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Review of Cryogenic Carbon Capture Innovations and Their Potential Applications

C – Journal of Carbon Research ◽

10.3390/c7030058 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 7 (3) ◽

pp. 58

Author(s):

Carolina Font-Palma ◽

David Cann ◽

Chinonyelum Udemu

Keyword(s):

Carbon Dioxide Emissions ◽

Carbon Capture ◽

Large Scale ◽

Carbon Capture And Storage ◽

Technological Readiness ◽

Cryogenic Carbon Capture ◽

Potential Applications ◽

Air Capture ◽

Reduce Carbon Dioxide ◽

Co2 Recovery

Our ever-increasing interest in economic growth is leading the way to the decline of natural resources, the detriment of air quality, and is fostering climate change. One potential solution to reduce carbon dioxide emissions from industrial emitters is the exploitation of carbon capture and storage (CCS). Among the various CO2 separation technologies, cryogenic carbon capture (CCC) could emerge by offering high CO2 recovery rates and purity levels. This review covers the different CCC methods that are being developed, their benefits, and the current challenges deterring their commercialisation. It also offers an appraisal for selected feasible small- and large-scale CCC applications, including blue hydrogen production and direct air capture. This work considers their technological readiness for CCC deployment and acknowledges competing technologies and ends by providing some insights into future directions related to the R&D for CCC systems.

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Oxy-combustion of coal, lignite and biomass: A techno-economic analysis for a large scale Carbon Capture and Storage (CCS) project in Romania

Fuel ◽

10.1016/j.fuel.2015.12.005 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 169 ◽

pp. 50-57 ◽

Cited By ~ 54

Author(s):

Calin-Cristian Cormos

Keyword(s):

Economic Analysis ◽

Carbon Capture ◽

Large Scale ◽

Carbon Capture And Storage ◽

And Storage

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Life Cycle Assessment of Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage with Low-Carbon Energy Sources

10.26434/chemrxiv.14346182 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Tom Terlouw ◽

Karin Treyer ◽

christian bauer ◽

Marco Mazzotti

Keyword(s):

Life Cycle Assessment ◽

Life Cycle ◽

Carbon Capture ◽

Large Scale ◽

Carbon Capture And Storage ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Solid Sorbent ◽

Low Carbon Energy ◽

And Storage ◽

Limited Scope

Prospective energy scenarios usually rely on Carbon Dioxide Removal (CDR) technologies to achieve the climate goals of the Paris Agreement. CDR technologies aim at removing CO2 from the atmosphere in a permanent way. However, the implementation of CDR technologies typically comes along with unintended environmental side-effects such as land transformation or water consumption. These need to be quantified before large-scale implementation of any CDR option by means of Life Cycle Assessment (LCA). Direct Air Carbon Capture and Storage (DACCS) is considered to be among the CDR technologies closest to large-scale implementation, since first pilot and demonstration units have been installed and interactions with the environment are less complex than for biomass related CDR options. However, only very few LCA studies - with limited scope - have been conducted so far to determine the overall life-cycle environmental performance of DACCS. We provide a comprehensive LCA of different low temperature DACCS configurations - pertaining to solid sorbent-based technology - including a global and prospective analysis.

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The potential for large-scale, subsurface geological CO2 storage in Denmark

Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland Bulletin ◽

10.34194/geusb.v17.5003 ◽

1969 ◽

Vol 17 ◽

pp. 13-16 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Peter Frykman ◽

Lars Henrik Nielsen ◽

Thomas Vangkilde-Pedersen

Keyword(s):

Carbon Capture ◽

Large Scale ◽

Best Practice ◽

Co2 Storage ◽

Carbon Capture And Storage ◽

The European Union ◽

Geological Storage ◽

Geological Co2 Storage ◽

Research Programmes ◽

Capture Techniques

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) is increasingly considered to be a tool that can significantly reduce the emission of CO2. It is viewed as a technology that can contribute to a substantial, global reduction of emitted CO2 within the timeframe that seems available for mitigating the effects of present and continued emission. In order to develop the CCS method the European Union (EU) has supported research programmes for more than a decade, which focus on capture techniques, transport and geological storage. The results of the numerous research projects on geological storage are summarised in a comprehensive best practice manual outlining guidelines for storage in saline aquifers (Chadwick et al. 2008). A detailed directive for geological storage is under implementation (European Commission 2009), and the EU has furthermore established a programme for supporting the development of more than ten large-scale demonstration plants throughout Europe. Geological investigations show that suitable storage sites are present in most European countries. In Denmark initial investigations conducted by the Geological Survey of Denmark and Greenland and private companies indicate that there is significant storage potential at several locations in the subsurface.

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Green pivot: can Australia master the hydrogen trade?

The APPEA Journal ◽

10.1071/aj20120 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 61 (2) ◽

pp. 466

Author(s):

Prakash Sharma ◽

Benjamin Gallagher ◽

Jonathan Sultoon

Keyword(s):

Carbon Capture ◽

Large Scale ◽

Carbon Capture And Storage ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Metallurgical Coal ◽

Thermal Coal ◽

The World ◽

Trading Partners ◽

End Use

Australia is in a bind. It is at the heart of the pivot to clean energy: it contains some of the world’s best solar irradiance and vast potential for large-scale carbon capture and storage; it showed the world the path forward with its stationary storage flexibility at the much vaunted Hornsdale power reserve facility; and it moved quickly to capitalise on low-carbon hydrogen production. Yet it remains one of the largest sources for carbon-intensive energy exports in the world. The extractive industries are still delivering thermal coal for power generation and metallurgical coal for carbon-intensive steel making in Asian markets. Even liquefied natural gas’s green credentials are being questioned. Are these two pathways compatible? The treasury and economy certainly benefit. But there is a huge opportunity to redress the source of those funds and jobs, while fulfilling the aspirations to reach net zero emissions by 2050. In our estimates, the low-carbon hydrogen economy could grow to become so substantial that 15% of all energy may be ultimately ‘carried’ by hydrogen by 2050. It is certainly needed to keep the world from breaching 2°C. Can Australia master the hydrogen trade? It is believed that it has a very good chance. Blessed with first-mover investment advantage, and tremendous solar and wind resourcing, Australia is already on a pathway to become a producer of green hydrogen below US$2/kg by 2030. How might it then construct a supply chain to compete in the international market with established trading partners and end users ready to renew old acquaintances? Its route is assessed to mastery of the hydrogen trade, analyse critical competitors for end use and compare costs with other exporters of hydrogen.

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The Role of Fossil Fuels in a Hydrogen Economy

10.2523/iptc-21162-ms ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Hon Chung Lau

Keyword(s):

Carbon Capture ◽

Large Scale ◽

Fossil Fuels ◽

Carbon Tax ◽

Developing Economies ◽

Carbon Capture And Storage ◽

Energy Transition ◽

Renewable Energies ◽

Two Factors ◽

Final Energy Consumption

Abstract The world of energy is transitioning from one based on fossil-fuels to one based on renewable energies and hydrogen as an energy carrier. At present, only 11% of the world's final energy consumption and less than 1% of industrial hydrogen come from renewable energies. Our analysis shows that this energy transition will take several decades because of two factors. First, renewable energies give more CO2 savings in replacing fossil fuels in the power sector than producing hydrogen for heat generation in the industry sector. Therefore, significant quantities of green hydrogen will not be available until renewable energies have replaced fossil fuels in power generation. This will take at least two decades for advanced economies and twice as long for developing economies. Second, even if blue hydrogen produced by fossil fuels with carbon capture and storage (CCS) is available in large quantities, it is still more expensive than blue fossil fuels which is also decarbonized by CCS. Consequently, fossil fuels and CCS will continue to play a key role in this energy transition. To accelerate this energy transition, governments should introduce a significant carbon tax or carbon credit to incentivize companies to implement large-scale CCS projects. Nations whose governments adopt such policies will go through this energy transition faster and benefit from the associated job creation and economic opportunities.

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Actors-Network Analysis on Carbon Capture and Storage Technological Innovation System in China and the U.S

Applied Mechanics and Materials ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amm.248.331 ◽

2012 ◽

Vol 248 ◽

pp. 331-336

Author(s):

Xian Jin Lai

Keyword(s):

Technological Innovation ◽

Carbon Capture ◽

Large Scale ◽

Technology Development ◽

Carbon Capture And Storage ◽

Innovation System ◽

High Emission ◽

Actor Networks ◽

And Storage ◽

The U.S

Carbon capture and storage (CCS) provides important technological solutions to reduce CO2 emission at large scale for high emission countries. CCS technology is being shaped and developed within technological innovation system. The strength and composition of actor-networks in this system make a significant impact on CCS technology development. In order to facilitate the build-up of CCS innovation system, this study analyzes the actors-networks of CCS innovation system in China and the U.S, based on social-networks analysis. It is argued that there are huge differences between China and the U.S’s CCS innovation system. Therefore, the build-up of CCS innovation system in China should take characteristic approaches and policies to accelerate CCS development in the future.

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CCS Can Make Fossil-Fueled Energy Clean in Guangdong Province, China

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.807-809.783 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 807-809 ◽

pp. 783-789 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

Di Zhou ◽

Cui Ping Liao ◽

Peng Chun Li ◽

Ying Huang

Keyword(s):

Carbon Capture ◽

Large Scale ◽

Fossil Fuel ◽

Northern South China Sea ◽

Carbon Capture And Storage ◽

Guangdong Province ◽

Sedimentary Basins ◽

Clean Energy ◽

Low Carbon ◽

Fossil Fuel Energy

CCS (Carbon Capture and Storage) is the only technology available to achieve a deep cut in CO2emissions from large-scale fossil fuel usage. Although Guangdong Province has less heavy industries and higher reliance on energy import compared with many other provinces in China, CCS is still essential for the low-carbon development in the province. This is because fossil fuel energy is now and will be in the foreseeable future the major energy in Guangdong. CCS may have other benefits such as helping energy security and bring new business opportunities. The feasibility of CCS development in Guangdong is ensured by the existence of sufficient CO2storage capacity in offshore sedimentary basins in the northern South China Sea. A safe CO2storage is achievable as long as the selection of storage sites and the storage operations are in restrict quality control. The increased cost and energy penalty associated with CCS could be reduced through technical R&D, the utilization of captured CO2, and the utilization of infrastructure of offshore depleted oil fields. Fossil fuel energy plus CCS should be regarded as a new type of clean energy and deserves similar incentive policies that have been applied to other clean energies such as renewables and nuclear.

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