Leveraging the bioeconomy for carbon drawdown

Summary

This document assesses the potential of the bioeconomy to contribute to carbon drawdown, extending beyond traditional BECCS to include bioplastics, biochar, and wood products. The U.S. bioeconomy is a significant sector, valued at over $1 trillion, with the potential to sustainably produce about 1 billion dry tons of lignocellulosic biomass annually by 2040. Key findings show that while BECCS (e.g., integrated gasification combined cycle with CCS) can achieve a net drawdown of -2811 kgCO2e per tonne of carbon over 100 years, other pathways are also substantial. For instance, bio-polyethylene with CCS can achieve -1197 kgCO2e/tC, and oriented strand board (OSB) from forest residues can achieve -987 kgCO2e/tC over 100 years. The study emphasizes reducing supply chain emissions, maximizing carbon storage in long-lived products, and extending storage terms to enhance drawdown benefits, with non-BECCS pathways retaining 55-67% of their initial drawdown over 100 years.

Key Facts

Source Document

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