BECCS: New development opportunities for the Polish biomass industry

This article was originally published in Magazyn Biomasa

What is BECCS and how does it work? 

BECCS (bioenergy with carbon capture and storage) is a process that combines bioenergy production with carbon capture and permanent storage processes. This process involves converting biomass into fuels or burning it directly to produce energy, during which the emitted CO₂ is captured and transported to permanent storage sites, such as underground geological formations.

BECCS works according to the following scheme:

• CO₂ is absorbed from the atmosphere through photosynthesis, which occurs during plant growth.
• The biomass is then converted into usable energy in conversion facilities equipped with CO₂ capture technologies, which prevents the carbon dioxide gas from being released into the atmosphere.
• The captured CO₂ is then stored in deep geological formations.

In this way, there can be a net removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere if the direct and indirect emissions associated with the production and supply of biomass and the capture of CO₂ do not exceed the amount removed from the air by plants via photosynthesis.¹ BECCS involves separating carbon dioxide, compressing it and transporting it to a storage site. These sites are most often depleted oil and gas deposits or deep geological formations, where CO₂ can be safely and permanently stored for thousands of years.

All BECCS systems achieve gross carbon storage of carbon captured by plants, but whether the system achieves net negative emissions depends on the entire BECCS system’s lifecycle emissions, particularly influenced by the choice of biomass resource. Some biomass resources serve as durable carbon sinks in the land sector, while other biomass resources are responsible for significant land sector emissions or harm the environment if not managed. BECCS has the potential to counterbalance greenhouse gas emissions that may result from delays in implementing climate policies, particularly in sectors where reducing emissions is technically challenging. This strategy should avoid deterring efforts to achieve necessary emissions reductions.

BECCS and the EU and Polish biomass sector 

The introduction of BECCS technology may significantly affect the Polish biomass market. Increased demand for biomass as an energy resource can stimulate the development of the agricultural and forestry sectors. However, the need to provide potentially large amounts of biomass raises warranted concerns in terms of greenhouse gas emissions, the exploitation of natural resources, the potential impact on land carbon sinks, food production, and the protection of biodiversity. Therefore, the sustainable management of biomass resources and investments in technologies that increase the efficiency of energy crops will be crucial. In addition, the development of BECCS can contribute to the creation of new jobs in the energy and environmental technologies sector. 

The European Union recognises the potential of BECCS technology in achieving climate goals such as climate neutrality by 2050. Therefore, activities are planned to support the development of this technology. These include investment in R&D, the creation of a favourable regulatory framework through the carbon removal and carbon farming regulation (CRCF), as well as funding mechanisms for BECCS projects through the Innovation Fund. Poland, being a member of the EU, has the opportunity to take advantage of these initiatives.

Furthermore, the potential integration of permanent carbon removals into the EU’s emissions trading scheme as part of the 2026 review of the system could also lead to significant demand for removals from this sector. National energy and environmental policies can be adapted in a way that is conducive to the implementation of climate-beneficial BECCS, benefiting both the economy and the environment. Policies to scale BECCS should be compatible with ameliorating land systems. Unfortunately, BECCS was only mentioned in the KPEiK, there were no specifics. Creating a value chain for BECCS technology after 2040 will require infrastructure preparation and appropriate planning by policymakers.

Additionally, establishing robust sustainability certifications and ensuring traceability are essential to support the sourcing of beneficial biomass. Biomass must be traceable throughout the entire value chain. Poland has an estimated CO₂ storage potential of more than 15 Gt, mainly in brine aquifers (14.3 Gt) and hydrocarbon deposits (1 Gt). This potential is sufficient to store around 600 years of emissions at the projected level after 2050, highlighting the strategic need in the deployment of every technically and economically feasible carbon capture and storage (CCS) solutions as tools for energy and climate policy implementation. However, to fully exploit this potential, Poland should invest in geological characterisation studies to comprehensively assess storage sites and provide a sound scientific basis for future storage projects. 

Swedish example: A direction for Polish BECCS? 

Sweden has been at the forefront of climate protection and the implementation of innovative energy technologies for years. Although Sweden does not have suitable geological conditions for CO₂ storage, the country’s extensive coastline and port facilities at numerous biogenic CO₂ point sources offer a potential alternative. Rather than relying on pipelines, which would be impractical to install along such a long shoreline, shipping provides the only viable option for transporting CO₂ from these facilities. Ship transport is more economically efficient than constructing pipelines to reach overseas storage sites. One of the latest and most significant projects is the BECCS Stockholm project  implemented by Stockholm Exergi. This project is an example that BECCS technology is being deployed in the EU member states.

Key project data: 

• Total project cost: Approximately €2.7 billion

• Capital expenditure (CAPEX): €455 million

• Contribution from the EU Innovation Fund: €180 million

• Planned emission reduction: Approximately 7.8 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent in the first ten years of operation

• Planned start date of the operation: Third quarter of 2026

BECCS Stockholm is a project that aims to create a full-scale BECCS plant at an existing biomass-fired CHP plant in Stockholm. The project involves capturing as much as 90% of the carbon dioxide contained in the exhaust gases. A key element of this process is the use of innovative high-performance capture technology, which is not only highly effective, but also safe for the environment thanks to the use of non-toxic absorbents. As part of the project, CO₂ will be transported by sea to underground storage facilities in the North Sea, where it will be permanently stored. During the first ten years of operation, the plant is expected to remove approximately 7.8 million tonnes of CO₂ equivalent from the atmosphere. 

One of the biggest challenges in CCS technology is the so-called energy penalty, i.e. the additional energy needed to carry out the CO₂ capture and storage process. In the case of BECCS Stockholm, this problem is to be solved by integrating CO₂ capture into the district heating network. The excess heat generated during the CCS process will be used to heat the buildings, reducing energy loss to just 2%. Furthermore, some biomass sources already act as important sinks in the soil, while others can lead to significant emissions in the land sector. Understanding and carefully selecting these biomass resources is therefore crucial. 

The BECCS Stockholm project can provide a reference point for other countries that are considering implementing BECCS technology. If successful, Sweden will not only reduce its emissions, but also contribute to the development of a global market for negative emissions technologies, which is crucial to achieving climate neutrality by 2050. 

Poland can draw on the experience of Sweden, adapting the Swedish model to domestic realities. The use of existing infrastructure in combination with EU financial support could accelerate the implementation of similar projects in our country. However, these actions would require a strategic approach, including cooperation between the industry, identifying potential locations, creating a favorable regulatory framework, and securing adequate resources for the development and implementation of the technology. 

Poland’s opportunity

BECCS technology offers a unique opportunity to combine energy production with the active removal of CO₂ from the atmosphere. For the Polish biomass industry, this is an opportunity for development and increased competitiveness on the renewable energy market. 

Poland, together with the biomass industry, should make efforts to build the country’s first “first of a kind” (FOAK) BECCS installation. The implementation of this technology might not only reduce emissions, but also gain valuable experience and a leading position in the region. 

The development of BECCS in the European Union and Poland is an opportunity and the government and institutions should implement various support instruments for this technology. If Poland decides to develop BECSS, the following should be expected in the future: 

• Robust sustainable biomass sourcing criteria and traceability

• Investment tax reliefs

• Preferential financing structures and cash grants

• Operational support through government programs  

• Development of public-private partnerships

Creating a favorable legal and financial environment would encourage investors to get involved in BECCS projects. Cooperation between the public and private sectors and learning from the experience of countries such as Sweden can contribute to the success of these initiatives. 

BECCS can be a tool in the fight against climate change, but also an opportunity for innovative development of the Polish energy, agriculture, and forestry sectors and economy in the future, as BECCS  represents a variety of systems, not just combustion with CCS. BECCS is particularly important for Poland due to its unique bioenergy potential. Promising places for the use of solutions from the BECCS technology group include Polish cement plants and lime plants, which already have (or will have in the horizon of 2030) bioenergy sources in their fuel structure, so it is worth taking up the challenge and using the potential of this innovative concept. Polish companies can harness existing biogenic emissions from the pulp and paper, waste management, and biomass energy generation sectors. Robust biomass resource sourcing criteria can help support climate-beneficial outcomes as the overall climate impact is heavily influenced by the type of biomass resources utilized. The use of these climate-beneficial BECCS solutions provides the opportunity to  reduce harmful emissions, while supporting the development of CO₂ transport and storage infrastructure.

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¹ Tatarewicz, I., Lewarski, M., Skwierz, S., Krupin, V., Jeszke, R., Pyrka, M., Szczepański, K., & Sekuła, M. (2021). The Role of BECCS in Achieving Climate Neutrality in the European Union. Energies, 14(23), 7842. https://doi.org/10.3390/en14237842