Evaluating Carbon Removal Strategies
Author Information
Author(s): Mertens Jan, Breyer Christian, Belmans Ronnie, Gendron Corinne, Geoffron Patrice, Fischer Carolyn, Du Fornel Elodie, Lester Richard, Nicholas Kimberly A., de Miranda Paulo Emilio V., Palhol Sarah, Verwee Peter, Sala Olivier, Webber Michael, Debackere Koenraad
Primary Institution: ENGIE Research
Hypothesis
What are the critical technologies related to CO2 removal in the energy transition?
Conclusion
The study finds that the technical potential of carbon dioxide removal (CDR) technologies exceeds the required removal efforts to meet climate targets.
Supporting Evidence
- The technical potential of CDR options is estimated to be between 11 and 200 Gtonnes per year.
- Two CDR options received a maximum ESG score of 5: reforestation and using wood for construction.
- Direct air carbon capture and sequestration (DACCS) received the highest quality score among the evaluated technologies.
- The study emphasizes the need for further research to understand and mitigate ESG impacts.
- CDR technologies should be used as a supplementary measure to drastic emissions reductions.
Takeaway
To help the planet, we need to remove a lot of carbon dioxide from the air, and some methods are better than others. This study looks at different ways to do that and ranks them based on how good they are for the environment.
Methodology
The study used an interdisciplinary Delphi panel methodology to evaluate 16 carbon removal strategies based on technical potential, ESG criteria, and sequestration permanence.
Potential Biases
There may be biases in the expert opinions due to the interdisciplinary nature of the panel.
Limitations
The study does not account for cost in the selection of CDR technologies.
Participant Demographics
The expert panel included members from various academic and industrial backgrounds across the globe.
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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