Life cycle greenhouse gas reduction in bioenergy with carbon capture and storage processes for green hydrogen production

[Geoengineering News]

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0960852426009880

Authors: Ha Eun Lee, Jester Lih Jie Ling, See Hoon Lee

19 May 2026

10.1016/j.biortech.2026.134906

Highlights

•On-site system achieved −36.56 kg CO2-eq/kg H2, producing 4.2 tons of H2 per day.

•H2 conversion ratio found key in affecting global warming potential.

•Stable net-negative needs clean power and low-emission upstream sources.

Abstract

As the transition to a net-zero economy accelerates, bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) has emerged as a critical negative emission technology. Nevertheless, the environmental viability of these systems is frequently uncertain due to the variety of operational configurations and carbon accounting frameworks in existence. The present study evaluates the environmental impacts of hydrogen production using BECCS under two energy-supply configurations: grid-connected and on-site self-sufficient scenarios. It was found that both configurations achieved net-negative emissions of −17.19 and −36.56 kgCO2-eq/kg H2, respectively, producing 4.2 tons of hydrogen daily from 100 tons of wood pellets. Quantitative assessment reveals that these net-negative potentials are 18.69 to 38.06 kg CO2-eq/kg H2 lower than those of renewable-based hydrogen pathways. The hydrogen conversion ratio was the dominant factor influencing the global warming potential (GWP), while the grid-connected system showed significantly higher impacts in other categories, such as terrestrial acidification and freshwater eutrophication, primarily due to electricity-intensive processes. Furthermore, sensitivity analysis demonstrates that the system’s net-negative feasibility is highly contingent on the biogenic emission factor, a threshold of 46–72% is required to maintain a comparative advantage over fossil-fuel-based methods. These findings emphasize that while BECCS offers substantial negative emission potential, its sustainable deployment necessitates the integration of clean electricity and rigorous upstream biomass management.

Source: ScienceDirect