Generating electricity at the production site can significantly improve the environmental performance of hydrogen produced from biomass using carbon capture and storage, according to a study by researchers at Jeonbuk National University in South Korea, Bioenergy Insight reported.
The research, published in the journal Bioresource Technology, compared two systems designed to produce similar quantities of hydrogen from organic materials such as wood pellets. Both systems used bioenergy with carbon capture and storage (BECCS) technology but differed in their electricity supply.
One system relied on electricity from the power grid, while the other generated its own electricity using additional biomass and heat recovered during production.
The researchers assessed emissions across the entire process, including biomass production, transportation, hydrogen generation and carbon storage. Both systems had the potential to remove more greenhouse gases from the atmosphere than they released, provided the biomass was sourced sustainably and the captured carbon was safely stored underground.
However, the system that generated electricity on-site delivered greater climate benefits under the conditions considered in the study. Its lower dependence on grid electricity helped reduce emissions from energy-intensive production activities.
The study also found that hydrogen production efficiency and the source of biomass played an important role in determining the overall environmental impact. Besides greenhouse gas emissions, the researchers identified potential effects on soil quality and freshwater ecosystems.
Professor See Hoon Lee said assessing emissions across the entire supply chain was essential to determining whether these systems could deliver meaningful climate benefits.
Ha Eun Lee, a doctoral researcher at the university and the study’s first author, said the choice of electricity supply could significantly influence environmental performance. She added that efficient production processes, clean energy and responsible biomass sourcing would be essential to achieving reliable carbon-negative results.
