Review of Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS): Progress, Challenges, and Future Outlook - Preprint

[Geoengineering News]

https://papers.ssrn.com/sol3/papers.cfm?abstract_id=7076303

Authors: Nadine Tamer Moustafa, Nishikawa Emily, Koen H. Van Dam, Jennifer F. Holak, Sergey Paltsev, Mai Bui, Sean McCoy, Niall Mac Dowell

08 July 2026

Abstract

Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) is one of the few carbon dioxide removal (CDR) approaches consistently represented at gigatonne scale in climate mitigation scenarios. However, real-world deployment remains limited, and significant uncertainties persist regarding its feasibility at scale. This review synthesises current evidence on BECCS across technological pathways, biomass supply, lifecycle emissions, infrastructure requirements, and policy and market frameworks.The analysis highlights that BECCS performance is highly pathway-dependent, with substantial variation in carbon efficiency, CO2 stream characteristics, and technological maturity across thermochemical and biological routes. Beyond technology, biomass availability emerges as a primary constraint. Estimates of global supply are highly sensitive to land-use assumptions, and sustainability-constrained scenarios suggest significantly lower availability. Infrastructure and spatial constraints introduce additional challenges. Biomass resources, geological storage capacity, and demand for negative emissions are not co-located, implying reliance on transport networks, cross-border trade, and coordinated infrastructure expansion.Overall, the paper argues that BECCS must be evaluated as a coupled land, energy, infrastructure and carbon system. While it may play a role in net-zero pathways, reliance on BECCS alone introduces systemic risk. A portfolio approach to CDR, supported by integrated modelling, robust governance, and coordinated policy design, is required to ensure credible and scalable deployment.

Source: SSRN