Land-based mitigation technologies, measures, and systems in negative emission pathways

Objective

This study aims to evaluate techno-economic parameters and deployment aspects of land-based mitigation technologies, with a particular focus on biochar, forest management and/or integrated biomass-bioenergy systems.

The studies are expected to include two countries within the context of two geographical regions. One will be in Sweden and the Nordic region, and one will be in Kenya and Eastern Africa. Some knowledge and experience in at least one of the regions will be valuable for studies and travels.

Background

Land-based mitigation technologies (LMTs) and measures comprises a variety of approaches through which a net removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere can be achieved, thus intersecting with technologies or measures for carbon dioxide removal (CDR) and negative emissions technologies (NETs). The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) is a partner in the EU Horizon2020 project (Land Use Based Mitigation for Resilient Climate Pathways; www.landmarc2020.eu/ ) and is involved in case studies, workshops, and analyses for LMTs across different regions. SEI’s role focuses on policy implications of LMTs, including techno-economic and socio-economic aspects. Of special interest for SEI science-policy research in this context are the following LMTs: biochar; afforestation/forest management; Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage (BECCS).

We are mainly interested in answering the following questions:

• What are the Technology Readiness Levels (TRLs), resource constraints, supply chain costs and system characteristics of the selected LMTs (i.e., BECCS, biochar, and afforestation)?
• What are the costs and main barriers to the LMT deployment and implementation for the country and region in focus?
• How much negative emissions (NEs) can be accrued from the LMTss? 

The student will define in collaboration with the supervisors the LMTs that will be part of the study focus based on the options mentioned above and their own competence or study track.

Learning outcomes

• In-depth analysis of techno-economic parameters for selected LMTs (see examples above); e.g. investment costs as well as operation and maintenance costs (e.g. per unit greenhouse gas emissions avoided), crop prices etc.
• Develop simple techno-economic analysis models for LMTs, e.g. excel-based.
• Engage with local and regional stakeholders to gather information on the technical, economic, and socio-political perspectives of LMT implementation.
• Analyze market related aspects of LMT implementation, e.g. technology learning rates, technology acceptance and commercial availability.
• Increased understanding of the role of LMTs within the climate mitigation agenda.

Methods include: systematic literature reviews, interviews and surveys, techno-economic analysis, policy analysis.

Deliverables/Outputs

A master thesis report, which analyses one or more LMTs, focusing especially on techno-economic parameters and deployment aspects. Biochar is in special focus but there may be opportunities for comparative analysis between biochar and 1-2 other LMTs. Learning outcomes should be documented in Master Thesis.

The master thesis student is also expected:

• To liaise with the SEI project team on a regular basis in order to converge on a set of parameters to serve as model input for assessing the cost-effectiveness and impacts of the LMT(s)
• To provide insights from the master thesis to a report on the LMT(s) with respect to their potential and areas of application, comparing technical, market and achievable potentials.
• To present the status of the thesis work at an intermediate seminar which will take place approximately 3 months after starting and in agreement with the supervisors.
• Regular meetings with KTH supervisors.  

Prerequisites

• Possess or be completing a master’s degree in a relevant subject (environmental science, energy/climate studies, engineering, public policy, etc.)
• Have experience analysing energy and climate systems, including costs, emissions, and energy input and output.
• Familiarity with software needed to analyse energy and climate characteristics.
• International experience in developing or emerging regions would be an asset.
• Knowledge of Swedish or a Nordic language would be an asset but is not strictly required.

Research Areas:

• Climate Mitigation; Biomass/land use systems; Resource Efficiency

Duration

6 months, start time: anytime soon (latest by January 2023)

KTH Supervision

SEI Supervision

Dr. Francis X. Johnson  (SEI) francis.x.johnson@sei.org

Dr. Maria Xylia  (SEI) maria.xylia@sei.org

Thesis contact at SEI: Dr. Maria Xylia  

Relevant reading materials

• Babin, Alexandre, Céline Vaneeckhaute, and Maria C. Iliuta. 2021. “Potential and Challenges of Bioenergy with Carbon Capture and Storage as a Carbon-Negative Energy Source: A Review.” Biomass and Bioenergy 146 (March): 105968. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biombioe.2021.105968.
• Duesberg, Stefanie, Deirdre O’Connor, and Áine Ní Dhubháin. 2013. “To Plant or Not to Plant—Irish Farmers’ Goals and Values with Regard to Afforestation.” Land Use Policy 32 (May): 155–64. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2012.10.021.
• Fuss, S., & Johnsson, F. (2021). The BECCS Implementation Gap–A Swedish Case Study. Frontiers in Energy Research, 8, 553400. https://doi.org/10.3389/fenrg.2020.553400
• Guo, Mingxin, Sophie Minori Uchimiya, and Zhongqi He. 2016. “Agricultural and Environmental Applications of Biochar: Advances and Barriers.” In Agricultural and Environmental Applications of Biochar: Advances and Barriers, 495–504. John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. https://doi.org/10.2136/sssaspecpub63.2014.0054.
• Kamali, Mohammadreza, Nick Sweygers, Sultan Al-Salem, Lise Appels, Tejraj M. Aminabhavi, and Raf Dewil. 2022. “Biochar for Soil Applications-Sustainability Aspects, Challenges and Future Prospects.” Chemical Engineering Journal 428 (January): 131189. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.cej.2021.131189.
• Kassioumis, K., K. Papageorgiou, Ath. Christodoulou, V. Blioumis, N. Stamou, and Ath. Karameris. 2004. “Rural Development by Afforestation in Predominantly Agricultural Areas: Issues and Challenges from Two Areas in Greece.” Forest Policy and Economics, The Future of European Forestry - Between Urbanization and Rural Development, 6 (5): 483–96. https://doi.org/10.1016/S1389-9341(02)00079-5.
• Minx, J.C., Lamb, W.F., Callaghan, M.W., Fuss, S., Hilaire, J., Creutzig, F., Amann, T., Beringer, T., De Oliveira Garcia, W., Hartmann, J., Khanna, T., Lenzi, D., Luderer, G., Nemet, G.F., Rogelj, J., Smith, P., Vicente Vicente, J.L., Wilcox, J., Del Mar Zamora Dominguez, M., 2018. Negative emissions - Part 1: Research landscape and synthesis. Environ. Res. Lett. 13. https://doi.org/10.1088/1748-9326/aabf9b
• Montanarella, Luca, and Emanuele Lugato. 2013. “The Application of Biochar in the EU: Challenges and Opportunities.” Agronomy 3 (2): 462–73. https://doi.org/10.3390/agronomy3020462.
• Latawiec, Agnieszka E., Jolanta B. Królczyk, Maciej Kuboń, Katarzyna Szwedziak, Adam Drosik, Ewa Polańczyk, Katarzyna Grotkiewicz, and Bernardo B. N. Strassburg. 2017. “Willingness to Adopt Biochar in Agriculture: The Producer’s Perspective.” Sustainability 9 (4): 655. htts://doi.org/10.3390/su9040655.
• Smith, P., 2016. Soil carbon sequestration and biochar as negative emission technologies. Glob. Chang. Biol. 22, 1315–1324. https://doi.org/10.1111/gcb.13178