Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS): Interconnected technological challenges and advances using biomass thermochemical conversion towards negative emissions

[Geoengineering News]

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1364032126001310

Authors: Min Jin Karen Wong, Sunlee Han, Sea-Eun Park, Hyeon Yeong Roh, Madhan Kuppusamy, Ju-Won Oh, Hyungseok Nam, Youngsoo Lee, See Hoon Lee

16 February 2026

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rser.2026.116832

Highlights

•Bioenergy is interdependent with carbon capture and storage for all process stages.

•Impurities affect the performance of carbon dioxide capture.

•Impurities generated during capture propagate into transport risks such as corrosion.

•Geological uncertainty at storage sites augments monitoring requirements and costs.

•Successful deployment depends on system-level integration across all process stages.

Abstract

Addressing the climate crisis demands both emission reduction and large-scale negative emission technologies capable of permanently removing CO2 from the atmosphere. Bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) is one of the most prominent options, as it integrates biomass conversion with CO2 capture, transportation, and geological storage. Unlike conventional CCS, BECCS links a biological supply chain with an engineered capture-storage chain, creating strong interdependencies in which limitations at one stage propagate throughout the system. This review synthesizes progress made over the past five years across the full BECCS chain. In the conversion and capture stages, feedstock variability and high moisture content increase purification requirements, raising energy penalties and costs. Residual impurities affect transportation, elevating hydrate formation and corrosion risks, which in turn require strict impurity thresholds. At the storage stage, geological uncertainties affect both trapping mechanisms and long-term integrity, which in turn intensifies monitoring requirements. Recent advances in seismic imaging and well logging have enhanced storage reliability; however, integration remains site-specific and costly. Incremental improvements are insufficient; system-wide integration, standardized feedstock management, cost-effective monitoring, and transparent regulatory frameworks are required. Supported by stable incentives and international cooperation, BECCS could deliver gigaton-scale negative emissions and contribute meaningfully to the 1.5 °C climate target.

Source: ScienceDirect