CDR: Carbon Dioxide Removal

Carbon dioxide removal (CDR) is crucial to achieve the Paris Agreement's 1.5 °C–2 °C goals. However, climate mitigation scenarios have primarily focused on bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), afforestation/reforestation, and recently direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS). This narrow focus exposes future climate change mitigation strategies to technological, institutional, and ecological pressures by overlooking the variety of existing CDR options, each with distinct characteristics—including, but not limited to, mitigation potential, cost, co-benefits, and adverse side-effects. This study expands the scope by evaluating CDR portfolios, consisting of any single CDR approach—BECCS, afforestation/reforestation, DACCS, biochar, and enhanced weathering—or a combination of them. We analyse the value of deploying these CDR portfolios to meet 1.5 °C goals, as well as their global and regional implications for land, energy, and policy costs. We find that diversifying CDR approaches is the most cost-effective net-zero strategy. Without the overreliance on any single approach, land and energy impacts are reduced and redistributed. A diversified CDR portfolio thus exhibits lower negative side-effects, but still poses challenges related to environmental impacts, logistics or accountability. We also investigate a CDR portfolio designed to support more scalable and sustainable climate mitigation strategies, and identify trade-offs between reduced economic benefits and lower environmental impacts. Rather than a one-size-fits-all scaling down, the CDR portfolio undergoes strategic realignment, with regional customization based on techno-economic factors and bio-geophysical characteristics. Moreover, we highlight the importance of nature-based removals, especially in Brazil, Latin America, and Africa, where potentials for avoided deforestation are the greatest, emphasizing their substantial benefits, not only for carbon sequestration, but also for preserving planetary well-being and human health. Finally, this study reveals that incentivizing timely and large-scale CDR deployment by policy and financial incentives could reduce the risk of deterring climate change mitigation, notably by minimizing carbon prices.

Recent studies outline markedly different possible decarbonization pathways for civil aviation by 2050. This paper examines how the key assumptions retained in these scenarios (i.e., the posited deployment of sustainable aviation fuels [SAFs], the projected demand trajectory, and the availability of electric and hydrogen-fueled solutions) affect the sector's future emissions of greenhouse gas. Data for 67 recent scenarios from industry-related, academic, institutional, and think tanks/NGO sources are used to perform the analysis. The results shed light on the shared properties of these scenarios. First, we find a clear consensus on the negative impact of SAFs on residual GHG emissions by 2050, conditioning to a high level of SAF penetration. Second, these scenarios posit a smaller decarbonizing power of biomass-based SAF than that of e-fuel. Third, we find signs of authorship bias in some scenarios. This last finding, therefore, raises concerns about the direct use of these scenarios in policymaking.

Sustainable aviation fuels (SAF) are crucial for decarbonizing aviation, but scaling up production faces major challenges. This review emphasizes the need for strategic investments and policies to ensure SAF’s sustainability and achieve net-zero emissions by 2050.

The aim of this work is therefore to assess how the application of dynamic LCA can be facilitated based on: the modelling tool Temporalis, the time dimension of the functional unit, and the contribution of the time dimension to the accuracy of results.

How should negative emissions be accounted for in CCU life cycle assessments? This study highlights key challenges and reveals how methodological choices impact results, proposing a refined approach for consistency in CCU and NET assessments.

As the climate crisis intensifies, global research on carbon removal is accelerating. This study reveals the explosive growth of CDR technologies, the key players driving innovation, and the emerging trends that will shape the future of climate action.

The research performed by Sibylle introduces methodological and practical advancements to improve the assessment of negative emissions from CCU systems. Key methodological contributions include refined approaches for accounting for atmospheric CO2, defining functional units, and managing multifunctionality.

Following the retirement of Jean-Pierre Deflandre and the departure of Olivier Massol from IFP School, the CarMa Chair is entering a new chapter with the appointment of Carlos Andrade and Schenckery Thémistocle as its new co-holders. Both bring a wealth of expertise and a strong commitment to advancing research in carbon management and negative emissions technologies. Their leadership will ensure the continuity of the chair’s mission, fostering innovation and collaboration between academia and industry to tackle the challenges of decarbonization. We extend our gratitude to Jean-Pierre and Olivier for their invaluable contributions and wish them all the best in their future endeavors.

The social acceptability of BECCS technology is a very complex phenomenon as national and local contexts shape debates and influence the deployment of this technology. This research highlights key challenges to advance the adoption of this decarbonization solution, including scale, international cooperation, and the need to pair BECCS with other emission reduction strategies. BECCS alone cannot effectively combat climate change.

Last December, on behalf of the CarMa Research Team, Jean-Pierre Deflandre participated to one of the workshops jointly organized by Carbon-Gap and E-Cube to design the first roadmap for CDR deployment in France.

CarMa had the honor of being interviewed by the Haut Conseil pour le Climat during the preparation of their recommendation report entitled "Avis sur la stratégie de capture du carbone, d'utilisation et de stockage (CCUS)" published in November 2023 just before COP28.

Assessing the role of negative emission technologies for the decarbonization of energy intensive industries using TIMES-EU model.

In July 2023, Romain Presty had the pleasure of attending the IEAGHG International CCS Summer School hosted by the International CCS Knowledge Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Ms. Sibylle Duval-Dachary, with the help of her supervisors, published her first article: “Life cycle assessment of bioenergy with carbon capture and storage systems: Critical review of life cycle inventories”

Dr. Solène Chiquier joined on March 23, 2023 the CarMa Research team for a 18-month post-doctoral research work based at Massassuchets Institute of Technology (MIT) in the Prof. Sergey Paltsev's research group.

Paul Bardon joined the CarMa Chair of IFP School for an internship from May to July 2023. His research focuses on the applications of carbon dioxide removal technologies in the aviation sector, notably through sustainable aviation fuels.

Dr. Emma Jagu-Schippers has been awarded the "Prix Spécial du Jury : Impact Société" by the jury of the Fondation CentraleSupélec thesis prize.

On March 23, 2023, Solène Chiquier joined the CarMa research team to start her postdoctoral research work at Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT).

Call for Papers - Topical Issue on "The role of Negative Emissions Technologies in 2050 decarbonation pathways" Your research interest deals with Negative Emissions Technologies, you are welcome to publish your work in the Sciences and Technologies for Energy Transition (STET) special Issue on NETs.

CarMa Research Team | Post-Doctoral Program | Doctoral Program