10TH INTERNATIONAL SYMPOSIUM ON ENERGY FROM BIOMASS AND WASTE
HOTEL MONACO & GRAND CANAL, VENICE (IT) / 25-27 NOVEMBER 2024

Focus Session IV: Carbon Capture: a way to decarbonise the waste system?

FOCUS SESSION IV / 27 November 2024 / 16:30 - 18:00
Carbon Capture: a way to decarbonise the waste system?

Moderator:
Thomas Astrup, Ramboll Denmark (DK)

Panelists:
Umberto Arena, University of Campania "Luigi Vanvitelli" (IT)
Stefano Consonni, Polytechnic University of Milan (IT)
Rainer Stegmann, Hamburg University of Technology (DE)


Carbon emissions from biomass and waste-to-energy facilities represent one of the main challenges for these technologies in a climate perspective. While still a new technology, carbon capture (CC) has the potential to limit direct carbon emissions from both biomass and waste-to-energy facilities. The captured carbon could be stored in subsurface deposits (CCS), or potentially utilised e.g. for fuel production (CCU) in combination with use of green electricity. Carbon capture can be seen as a practical way to decarbonise the waste system, create net-negative emissions, and/or capture biogenic CO2 for biofuel production. But the approach may also be found to legitimise potential carbon emissions that could otherwise be avoided. What are heads and tails in this? This focus session discusses key questions in relation to carbon capture:

  • With carbon capture (CC) available as an emission control technology, should CC be considered best-available-technology on waste and biomass combustion facilities in the future?
  • How important is CC for the overall carbon balance of biomass and waste-to-energy?
  • Should we focus on carbon storage (CCS) or carbon utilisation (CCU)?
  • Could biogenic carbon removal certificates be important in the future?