Whereas firms, together with tech giants like Microsoft, are betting large on this expertise, there are just a few potential issues with BECCS, as my colleague James Temple specified by a brand new story. And a number of the issues echo comparable issues with different local weather applied sciences we cowl, like carbon offsets and various jet fuels.
Carbon math will be sophisticated.
For instance one of many greatest points with BECCS, we have to run by the logic on its carbon accounting. (And whereas this tech can use many various types of biomass, let’s assume we’re speaking about timber.)
When timber develop, they suck up carbon dioxide from the ambiance. These timber will be harvested and used for some meant function, like making paper. The leftover materials, which could in any other case be waste, is then processed and burned for vitality.
This cycle is, in idea, carbon impartial. The emissions from burning the biomass are canceled out by what was faraway from the ambiance throughout vegetation’ development. (Assuming these timber are changed after they’re harvested.)
So now think about that carbon-scrubbing gear is added to the power that burns the biomass, capturing emissions. If the cycle was logically carbon impartial earlier than, now it’s carbon destructive: On web, emissions are faraway from the ambiance. Sounds nice, no notes.
There are just a few issues with this math, although. For one, it leaves out the emissions that is likely to be produced whereas harvesting, transporting, and processing wooden. And if tasks require clearing land to plant timber or develop crops, that transformation can wind up releasing emissions too.
Points with carbon math would possibly sound a bit of acquainted when you’ve learn any of James’s reporting on carbon offsets, packages the place individuals pay for others to keep away from emissions. Specifically, his 2021 investigation with ProPublica’s Lisa Music laid out how this so-called resolution was truly including hundreds of thousands of tons of carbon dioxide into the ambiance.
Carbon seize might entrench polluting services.
One of many large advantages of BECCS is that it may be added to current services. There’s much less constructing concerned than there is likely to be in one thing like a facility that vacuums carbon instantly out of air. That helps preserve prices down, so BECCS is presently less expensive than direct air seize and different types of carbon elimination.
