Limitations in Expanding Global BECCS Depend Heavily on Sustainable Irrigation Practices

In a groundbreaking study published in Nature Sustainability on July 5, researchers from multiple institutions have delved into the impact of irrigation on the global Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) potential under sustainable water use.

The study, which can be accessed using the DOI 10.1038/s41893-021-00740-4, aims to determine the extent to which irrigation can enhance the global BECCS potential. The research employs a unique approach, utilising simulations with a spatially explicit representation of bioenergy crop plantations and the water cycle within an internally consistent model framework.

Under unlimited irrigation, the study predicts a significant increase in the BECCS potential by the end of this century. Compared to the rain-fed condition, the potential could increase by 60-71%. However, under sustainably constrained irrigation, the increase is limited, with the potential only increasing by 5-6%.

The BECCS potential under sustainable irrigation is close to the lower limit required for the 1.5°C or 2°C climate goal as documented in the IPCC Special Report on Global Warming of 1.5°C. The countries involved in the joint research, while not explicitly named, likely include those with strong research institutions, possibly from Europe and other regions.

BECCS is a negative emission technology that captures carbon dioxide from the atmosphere through the process of photosynthesis. It extracts bioenergy from biomass and stores carbon in a geological reservoir. The study underscores the importance of comprehensive assessments of the BECCS potential for simultaneously achieving multiple sustainable development goals on climate, water, land, etc.

To achieve the 2°C or 1.5°C climate goal, large-scale deployment of BECCS has been assumed in many previous studies. The study emphasises the need for such comprehensive assessments to ensure the sustainable and effective deployment of BECCS.

The study was supported by the Environment Research and Technology Development Fund of the Environmental Restoration and Conservation Agency of Japan (JPMEERF20202005, JPMEERF15S11418, and JPMEERF20211001). For those interested in delving deeper into the findings, the study is now available online.

Limitations in Expanding Global BECCS Depend Heavily on Sustainable Irrigation Practices