Afforesting arid land with renewable electricity and desalination to mitigate climate change

Abstract

Afforestation is one of the most practised carbon dioxide removal methods but is constrained by the availability of suitable land and sufficient water resources. In this research, existing concepts of low-cost renewable electricity (RE) and seawater desalination are built upon to identify the global CO2 sequestration potential if RE-powered desalination plants were used to irrigate forests on arid land over the period 2030–2100. Results indicate a cumulative CO2 sequestration potential of 730 GtCO2 during the period. Global average cost is estimated to be €457 per tCO2 in 2030 but decrease to €100 per tCO2 by 2100, driven by the decreasing cost of RE and increasing CO2 sequestration rates of the forests. Regions closer to the coast with abundant solar resources and cooler climate experience the least costs, with costs as low as €50 per tCO2 by 2070. The results suggest a key role for afforestation projects irrigated with RE-based desalination within the climate change mitigation portfolio, which is currently based on bioenergy carbon capture and storage, and direct air carbon capture and storage plants.

Proposing a 1.0°C climate target for a safer future

“…CDR options have been increasingly discussed in recent years [4]. While natural carbon sinks such as reforestation are likely limited to a maximum of 16 GtCO 2 /a [4], direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS) becomes more feasible as the cost of electricity and direct air capture technology drops [15]. Renewable-powered desalination could also allow afforestation in arid regions [15], which could minimise land-use conflicts or even create co-benefits.…”

“…While natural carbon sinks such as reforestation are likely limited to a maximum of 16 GtCO 2 /a [4], direct air carbon capture and storage (DACCS) becomes more feasible as the cost of electricity and direct air capture technology drops [15]. Renewable-powered desalination could also allow afforestation in arid regions [15], which could minimise land-use conflicts or even create co-benefits. The rise of low-cost renewable electricity strongly increases the attractiveness of energy-intensive though scalable novel options, such as DACCS and desalination-based afforestation, while land-use and water supply issues diminish the sustainable potential for rainfallbased afforestation and bioenergy CCS.…”

Superhydrophobic Sand Mulch and Date Palm Biochar Dramatically Boost Growth ofMoringa oleiferain Sandy Soil: Insights into Evapotranspiration Budgeting and Metabolomic Profiling

“…Due to biochar's adsorptive properties and high porosity 17 , it has been used alongside other mulching technologies, as soil amendments for improving soil fertility, retaining nutrients and water in the soil, improving plant growth and productivity, as well as carbon sequestration in both managed and natural ecosystems [18][19][20][21] . Although afforestation efforts are increasing for the restoration of degraded arid lands under limitations of poor soil and water scarcity 22 , there is little information regarding the use of biochar and mulching for tree plantation 21 .…”

Boosted brackish water desalination and water softening by facilely designed MnO2/hierarchical porous carbon as capacitive deionization electrode

“…Desalination has been widely applied to tackle the escalating freshwater scarcity. Currently, there are two main types of water desalination technologies: reverse osmosis and thermal distillation ( Caldera and Breyer, 2023 ). However, the energy consumption of reverse osmosis is high, and membrane fouling at high pressure is another problem that needs to be resolved.…”