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S. Takeda et al.
24.1 Introduction
Under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement was developed with the central aim to strengthen
the global response to climate change, through the control of global temperature
rises to below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels. A more ambitious goal is to restrict
temperature increases to below 1.5 °C, and to strengthen nation’s abilities to deal with
climate change impacts (UNFCCC 2018a). The Paris Agreement entered into force
in November 2016, and at the time of this study, of the 197-member nations party
to the UNFCCC, 176 nations have ratified the agreement and communicated their
nationally determined contributions (NDC) or intended NDC (UNFCCC 2018b).
According to independent scientific analysis of current climate change policies and
NDCs under the Paris Agreement, the change in temperature by the end of this
century is estimated at between 2.6 and 3.7 °C. This is an improvement on global
warming in the absence of mitigatory policies, estimated at between 4.1 and 4.8 °C,
however, current efforts are not ambitious enough to meet the 2 degrees or the 1.5
degrees targets. In order to meet these targets, radical action on climate change is
required, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions rapidly down to zero by around
2050 (Climate Action Tracker 2017).
Decarbonization is the first step toward meeting climate change goals and
achieving the Paris Agreement targets. In addition to the decarbonization of industry,
transport and building sectors, national energy scenarios provide energy generation
options which are carbon neutral (Wind, solar, nuclear) or low carbon (gas, carbon
capture and storage (CCS), etc.) to achieve deep GHG cuts by 2050 (Mathy et al.
(2018)). However, decarbonization alone is insufficient to reach a net zero emissions
outcome by mid-century. In order to achieve zero emissions, energy generation technologies which are carbon-negative need to be introduced to ensure the long-term
stability of global temperatures, and the survival of all species on earth. A number of
negative emissions options exist, including direct air capture, enhanced weathering
and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), among others (Haszeldine
et al. 2018). The incorporation of BECCS as a potential solution to keep temperature
increases below 1.5 °C has been proposed as part of the Paris Agreement negotiations
(Editorial 2018).
In this study, we consider the role of BECCS using the gasification of biomass,
with heat provided by concentrating solar power (CSP) to generate electricity. Such
a system provides the dual benefit of clean energy on the one hand and offers options
for the storage of CO 2 to achieve a carbon-negative outcome on the other.
24.2 Background and Literature Review
In order to achieve the deep cuts in carbon dioxide levels to enhance the likelihood
of achieving the sub 2-degree Celsius targets, the vast majority of Intergovernmental
S. Takeda et al.
24.1 Introduction
Under the auspices of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC), the Paris Agreement was developed with the central aim to strengthen
the global response to climate change, through the control of global temperature
rises to below 2 °C above pre-industrial levels. A more ambitious goal is to restrict
temperature increases to below 1.5 °C, and to strengthen nation’s abilities to deal with
climate change impacts (UNFCCC 2018a). The Paris Agreement entered into force
in November 2016, and at the time of this study, of the 197-member nations party
to the UNFCCC, 176 nations have ratified the agreement and communicated their
nationally determined contributions (NDC) or intended NDC (UNFCCC 2018b).
According to independent scientific analysis of current climate change policies and
NDCs under the Paris Agreement, the change in temperature by the end of this
century is estimated at between 2.6 and 3.7 °C. This is an improvement on global
warming in the absence of mitigatory policies, estimated at between 4.1 and 4.8 °C,
however, current efforts are not ambitious enough to meet the 2 degrees or the 1.5
degrees targets. In order to meet these targets, radical action on climate change is
required, reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions rapidly down to zero by around
2050 (Climate Action Tracker 2017).
Decarbonization is the first step toward meeting climate change goals and
achieving the Paris Agreement targets. In addition to the decarbonization of industry,
transport and building sectors, national energy scenarios provide energy generation
options which are carbon neutral (Wind, solar, nuclear) or low carbon (gas, carbon
capture and storage (CCS), etc.) to achieve deep GHG cuts by 2050 (Mathy et al.
(2018)). However, decarbonization alone is insufficient to reach a net zero emissions
outcome by mid-century. In order to achieve zero emissions, energy generation technologies which are carbon-negative need to be introduced to ensure the long-term
stability of global temperatures, and the survival of all species on earth. A number of
negative emissions options exist, including direct air capture, enhanced weathering
and bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), among others (Haszeldine
et al. 2018). The incorporation of BECCS as a potential solution to keep temperature
increases below 1.5 °C has been proposed as part of the Paris Agreement negotiations
(Editorial 2018).
In this study, we consider the role of BECCS using the gasification of biomass,
with heat provided by concentrating solar power (CSP) to generate electricity. Such
a system provides the dual benefit of clean energy on the one hand and offers options
for the storage of CO 2 to achieve a carbon-negative outcome on the other.
24.2 Background and Literature Review
In order to achieve the deep cuts in carbon dioxide levels to enhance the likelihood
of achieving the sub 2-degree Celsius targets, the vast majority of Intergovernmental