The role of BECCS technology in achieving carbon neutrality: evidences from China’ coal power sector

Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS) is a potential technology to help achieve carbon neutrality. Currently, many researchers focus on the contribution of BECCS technology to achieving carbon neutrality but lack consideration of the actual spatial distribution of biomass resource endowments. Taking China's coal power sector, the largest carbon emitter, as an example, this study explores how BECCS technology can help achieve its carbon neutrality and maximize its emission reduction potential based on existing available biomass resources. The results show that all available biomass within 250 km and 100 km of coal power plants is 14.8 EJ and 11.8 EJ, respectively. With this biomass, the BECCS technology can help the coal power sector of China become carbon neutral after retrofitting most of the young generating units (younger than 20 years). After all units are retrofitted, the technology can achieve negative emissions of − 1.26 Gt and − 0.92 Gt, respectively. Furthermore, based on the layout of the biomass supply chain, provinces with better potential for biomass resource utilization are identified. Additionally, over 50% of generator units nationwide have biomass price advantages over coal. These findings provide a positive perspective for the promotion of BECCS technology in China's coal power sector to achieve carbon neutrality or even negative emissions.