The measures examined include direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS), bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS), and methods to enhance carbon uptake by ecosystems. The evaluation framework assessed six dimensions: ecological, technological, economic, social, institutional, and systemic.
"For a good and comparable assessment of the feasibility, taking into account the risks and opportunities of different CDR measures, various aspects must be considered. Because these are not easy to keep track of and compare, we wanted to shed light on them with our study," said Dr. Malgorzata Borchers, co-first author of the study.
The study involved the expertise of 28 co-authors from the Helmholtz Climate Initiative. "We thus had an incredibly large pool of expert knowledge at our disposal. This enabled us to assess the current state of knowledge on the CDR methods analysed in our study," said Dr. Nadine Mengis.
Results were presented using a traffic light color system to indicate the hurdles for each CDR measure. Red signifies high hurdles, yellow medium, and green low. Ecosystem-based measures, such as reforesting degraded land and rewetting peatlands, showed the lowest technological hurdles.
"Ecosystem-based measures are already being used to avoid emissions in particular. They also contribute to the removal of carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. However, the potential of these measures is limited because Germany is quite restricted in terms of area and because we cannot rewet peatlands or reforest large areas indefinitely," said Dr. Johannes Forster. "Nevertheless, we should try to leverage these synergies. In order to achieve the climate target, it will be necessary to combine different CDR measures in a portfolio of climate protection measures."
Technological CDR measures, such as BECCS, faced higher economic and institutional hurdles. "Because there are regional differences in the feasibility and potential of these CDR measures, we believe that more practical experience is needed at the regional and local level in order to better understand how the technologies can be further developed and established as part of local value chains," said Prof. Daniela Thran.
Some aspects, such as the social assessment of CDR measures, lacked data. "Further research is urgently needed. For example, on how the costs and disadvantages of CDR measures could be distributed fairly across society and how their implementation would benefit society as a whole," said Mengis.
The study aims to assist decision-makers in understanding and categorizing complex information to set the right course for achieving Germany's 2045 climate target.
Research Report:A Comprehensive Assessment of Carbon Dioxide Removal Options for Germany
Related Links
Helmholtz Centre for Environmental Research - UFZ
Carbon Worlds - where graphite, diamond, amorphous, fullerenes meet
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