es0c01097_si_001.pdf (1.71 MB)
Carbon-Negative Biofuel Production
journal contribution
posted on 2020-08-19, 12:14 authored by Seungdo Kim, Xuesong Zhang, Ashwan Daram Reddy, Bruce E. Dale, Kurt D. Thelen, Curtis Dinneen Jones, Roberto Cesar Izaurralde, Troy Runge, Christos MaraveliasAchievement of the 1.5 °C limit
for global temperature increase
relies on the large-scale deployment of carbon dioxide removal (CDR)
technologies. In this article, we explore two CDR technologies: soil
carbon sequestration (SCS), and carbon capture and storage (CCS) integrated
with cellulosic biofuel production. These CDR technologies are applied
as part of decentralized biorefinery systems processing corn stover
and unfertilized switchgrass grown in riparian zones in the Midwestern
United States. Cover crops grown on corn-producing lands are chosen
from the SCS approach, and biogenic CO2 in biorefineries
is captured, transported by pipeline, and injected into saline aquifers.
The decentralized biorefinery system using SCS, CCS, or both can produce
carbon-negative cellulosic biofuels (≤−22.2 gCO2 MJ–1). Meanwhile, biofuel selling prices
increase by 15–45% due to CDR costs. Economic incentives (e.g.,
cover crop incentives and/or a CO2 tax credit) can mitigate
price increases caused by CDR technologies. A combination of different
CDR technologies in decentralized biorefinery systems is the most
efficient method for greenhouse gas (GHG) mitigation, and its total
GHG mitigation potential in the Midwest is 0.16 GtCO2 year–1.