The European Commission hasThe Commission is expected to adopt a delegated act soon with methods for quantifying negative emissions generated via BECCS (biomass-fired power plants with CCS), biochar and DACCS (atmospheric CO2 capture and storage). The Commission's methods for BECCS and biochar determine that the amount of negative emissions roughly corresponds to the amount of permanently stored CO2, respectively carbon in biochar. However, the scope is adjusted downwards with emissions from the construction of capture plants, the transport of raw materials, CO2, and biochar, as well as any leakages.

In this webinar, held on December 16, we delved into three Danish analyses – which have independently of the EU and each other sought to calculate the extent of negative emissions from BECCS and biochar. What these analyses have in common is that they indicate a lower extent of negative emissions and a delay thereof, compared to what the Commission is expected to adopt.

It is important to establish and promote a debate about the actual climate effects of the two technologies, otherwise we risk misinvestment. Denmark has allocated a lot of funds to carbon capture, including BECCS, and pyrolysis, which largely happened without any debate about the effects thereof.